I'm stumped. - Paw Talk

Mousey · #1 01-02-2008, 02:40 AM

After Happy's death the other rats have been fighting... Well ok Anita fights all the other rats randomly. At first I thought it was new hieracy taking place and no worries. I started to notice that Anita and princess have squabbles more often than Anita and everyone else, but Anita is the one starting it. I have tried time out. And distracting them with new toys etc. nothing seems to be helping and I think it's getting worse. Anita will trap Kisses in the main house and not let her come out or she's afraid to leave the house. It happens at random times and when I feed them or give them treats. In my opinion she attacks more when there is food around. I thought about switching their food to a pellet form for a little while to see if that helps stop the fights over food. But I don't know which brand is the best as far as lab blocks go?! If anyone knows any goods brands please let me know. Also if the fighting over food stops then what should I try to do to help stop the random squabbles?

laydeerodentzz · #2 01-02-2008, 09:08 AM

If I were you I'd seperate them or take them out of the cage for seperate feeding times..?..

mebri123 · #3 01-02-2008, 10:02 AM

so was the other rat top rat and keept everyone under control..... sounds like they need time to readjust and establish whos the boss. how long has this been going on... they might just work through it over time....

Mousey · #4 01-02-2008, 04:19 PM

At the moment I cannot seperate them anymore due to space and reconstruction on our house. I have seperated her before and it doesn't help. And yeah the rattie that passed away was alpha rat. It's been going on for a few weeks even the other dominant rat is avoiding her as well. I am going to gert a lab block diet for them todaay to see if that helps.

Mousey · #5 01-04-2008, 06:29 PM

well I changed their food to a lab block for the moment and the fighting has reduced by a ton!

. I tried to put some seeds in their house and the fighting started again. So I am just going to keep them on the lab block and try to switch their food laterr on.

Vanilla_Rat · #6 01-04-2008, 07:38 PM

Hopefully that helps.My boys fight over treats and yummies alot too,even when there is plenty for all.So I would definatly limit it or cut things like that out,just till they are all settled again.

Oh and BTW good lab block brands are "Harland Tech" (I think thats the name of it,I have never seen it around here...I think you can order it online tho) and "Nutriblock".

Mousey · #7 01-05-2008, 05:36 PM

I'll def look into to those brands of lab blocks. they fight over normal food too tho! I am making make a bunch of hammocks and stuff because two of the rats have kicked all the others out of the main house. *SIGHS* Hopefully me not giving them treats will help straighten things out.