some squeeking

[adoptaratcanada]

Two days ago, I reached into the cage to pat Hugh and he squawked then I tried again, and he squawked again.

I thought maybe it was because Locutus was on the lower shelf next to him and maybe they'd been scrapping and he thought I was him. I took Hugh out and inspected him anyway, just to be sure and he seemed fine, and no noises.

I examined him again yesterday, still nothing. However, he did have a small bout of sneezing over the period of a minute or so. No other sneezing since. Both of them were kind of lazy yesterday, sleeping alot, and not together. Hugh slept in the igloo downstairs alot, which he really hasn't done in ages (if ever) -- usually if anything they get into a habit of sleeping there together for a spell.

Today, he and Locutus were doing what rats to, and Hugh really squawked again. I broke it up, then I noticed Hugh running a bit on the bottom level, still squawking. I looked at him and he was moving ok, but then he stopped and gave his tail alot of attention, holding and licking. I figured maybe L got him while he was on the other shelf. I got Hugh out no problem, checked his tail which looked and felt fine, and my handling it didn't bother Hugh any. In inspecting the rest of him, I VERY gently rubbed/squeezed (fingers on either side of him) from above and he did squeek at one point. I tried again, and nothing. Maybe that one was because I was coming at him from above?

Anyway, all seemed fine, so I put him back in the cage. They had a bit of a tousle right away, and some MORE loud squeeking (not sure from who) that was only a few seconds I'm sure, but longer (and louder) than they've done before.

Otherwise, he seems ok, eating and drinking well.

Not sure what to make of it. Thoughts?

Thanks,
Linda

[ladyjosephine]

I think he was still mad at the other one, and that's why he squeeked.
One of my guys, Ratpax, is really dominant and when they had a little fight he'll run around the cage squeeking with his hair wide and an arched back.
Also: Amice will do the same and sometimes react that way towards me when I touch him after a fight, and he'll groom his tail and the rest of his body after a fight. I think it's a natural reaction, making sure everything is alright.

I think the noise they make is to let the other ones know he's still very,very angry!

[Die Fledermaus]

How old are they?

Has any of them tried to assert dominance?

Any blood drawn?

Does one look scared of the other?

Are they both neutered or what? I forget.

Otherwise, it doesn't seem a major concern.

[adoptaratcanada]

ladyjosephine said:

Also: Amice will do the same and sometimes react that way towards me when I touch him after a fight, and he'll groom his tail and the rest of his body after a fight. I think it's a natural reaction, making sure everything is alright.

I think the noise they make is to let the other ones know he's still very,very angry!

I wondered about that. Thanks for your input, Lady J!

Linda

[adoptaratcanada]

How old are they?

Just over a year.

Has any of them tried to assert dominance? Are they both neutered or what? I forget.

They take turns! ;D Hugh is neutered because he was OVERLY rough , Locutus is not. Neutering Hugh put them on a level playing field --he's still pretty feisty and gives as good as he gets.

Any blood drawn?

Nope, thankfully

Does one look scared of the other?

Well right after the "big" scuffle I thought it seemed that Hugh was trying to get away from Loc, but if he was, it didn't last long.

However, they aren't interacting much at all this afternoon/evening. Granted they were sleeping most of that time, but again, where they usually sleep together, they haven't been tonight.

For a few minutes they were both in the hammock. To give it enough room, it overhangs a shelf, and the other shelf below that isn't too terribly far, about 8". I have it angled to make them more inclined to step in and out from the closer shelf, which has worked. When they were both in it, I noticed Hugh cleaning himself but he was right on the edge and at one point I almost thought he might topple out (onto the closer shelf, only a few inches). It made me wonder if he had done that a few days ago and maybe landed on his side, causing him to squeek when I examined him.

Otherwise, it doesn't seem a major concern.

Premature panic, my speciality I havent' been too concerned since everything else seems ok, and the exam I gave him didn't seem to bother him other than that one squeek. Tail seems fine.

Linda

[Die Fledermaus]

Yes, everything seems OK, if not perfect. I used to argue with my father MUCH more than that almost daily!