Dwarfs Behavior in Groups. How Much Squabbling OK?

[Die Fledermaus]

I mentioned in this forum, and Relaxing Rodents, about a group of dwarfs I rescued. They are very tame, but oddly they are rather "rude" to each other in trms of behavior, and they squabble with one standing on top of another who will be on its back squawking away. There seems to be no "balling" into fights and no biting.

Just wondering if the squabblnjg/squawking deal is normal for groups.

[Hamsters82]

To me, when you said one is standing the other is on its back. For wildlife, that's called domance. The one on its back is submissing to the one standing, basically he's saying, "You're the leader." My dwarves did that too, just watch them carefully though b/c like all animals, dwarves too, sometimes the olmega (the lowest ranking animal) can fight back sometimes. Sometimes the alpha (the highest ranking animal) will put the submissive animal in its place, but normally separation is needed too. Like I did with my dwarves. And as you know, they live fine on their own.

That's what it sounds like to me anyway on how you described it.

[Die Fledermaus]

It seems to be normal, as I keep watching. When I see it I yell and blow air on them to break it up, but as it happens no doubt when I am not there I would think there would be injuries if it were serious - but NO injuries.

Sometimes they sleep next to each other sometimes not.

So far, so good. I suppose it is about dominance. Loki (Norse mythological troublemaker) does that to Paxton. But everything looks OK. They are all (3) very tame to pick up. They must have been well handled in their previous home; makes me wonder how they could have been dumped in a pet store.

I never had dwarfs in groups before, and watching their behavior is indeed interesting (different from gerbils). BTW, the four female gerbil pups I rescued months ago are living together in a twenty gallon tank with absolutely no signs of aggression. I am watching that closely.

[lex]

The only real cause for concern is if one does enough damage to another to draw blood. Otherwise it isn't really serious, just arguing, and you don't need to seperate them.

[Die Fledermaus]

I've noticed that - no blood, so far. They seem to be OK.