Battling Rats

[Orion510]

I have two rats that have been living in the same cage for several months. Most times they seem to get along (sleeping together, eating together, playing together). Recently they have begun to fight. It is usually accompanied by lound squeaking and tumbling. Also, there is a large scratch on one of the rats legs. Other than that there has been no other blood drawn.

I would just like some opinions about what is going on. I have begun to worry and wonder if the two of them need to be seperated. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[PrincessoftheRats16]

This never happened to me, so I don't know much about it, but I wouldn't seperate them just yet. I would get them seperate houses, and more toys and stuff to occupy them, but if they don't stop fighting I would seperate them.

[alpharats]

This happened to me with my three 7.5 month old boys.

It started happening about 2 months ago when I saw some cuts on one of my boys.

In the following weeks while they were in their cage they were fine, just like yours.  Sleeping together eating together all of that with no battles.

But when they got out of the cage it was an all out war.  I was playing with one boy, and another boy came over they would start to fight.  Sometimes their fights could start from one side of the room and go all the way to the other!

Anyone I figure it was all just a phase (as they dont do it anymore) and was a part of growing up for them.

If yours rats are young they will probably grow out of it but for now you will have to keep a very close eye on them when they are together outside the cage.  

When a rat's hair starts to PUFF OUT it means he/she is aggresive, if you can take away either the rat about to be beat up or take away the one who is puffed (handle them in a towel or shirt INCASE they bite or anything)  Then cuddle with them and try and calm them down.

For my rats it was just a phase and a part of growing up and it lasted about 1.5 months.  If your rats get REALLY bad then you will need to spot the main aggresor and put him by himself until they can calm down.

My two cents,  good luck