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Fighting Members of a brown rat colony gain social status based on their dominant and submissive behaviour. An established colony will contain a complex dominance hierarchy that affects all members from the youngest kittens to the oldest female. Brown rats build their dominance hierarchy through agnostic behaviour patterns that includes acts such as threatening, backing down, fleeing, and even fighting other members. Both young male and female rats like to play fight a lot. Play fighting consists of race and chase with a good measure of rough and tumble thrown in but isn't serious and any injuries incurred will typically be accidental. However, as male rats become mature members of their colony, their play fighting turns to combative aggression and serious fights can break out. During the course of fighting, males will establish their social status based on how well they fare within their colony with the most consistent rat taking on the role of dominant leader. Pet rats have been selectively bred to be more docile and passive towards humans than their wild cousins. While this selective breeding trait may have reduced levels of aggressive and predatory behaviour, it clearly still remains. A pet rat owner will likely witness various levels of agnostic behaviour in two male rats that have reached social maturity. The following are features of agnostic behaviour. They are listed in a sequence of events although this isn't always the rule: a) In the wild, brown rats display their status or claim their territory by rapidly shuffling and scraping their paws on the ground. In pet rats you may observe this behaviour as part of the initial sequence leading to a confrontation.
c) In the event the chaser catches the escapee, the escapee may express submission by lowering its ears, keeping a low profile, or rolling over on its back. This submissive behaviour can reduce agitation and return calm. The rats may begin a mutual grooming session which will help reestablish a bond. d) If the escapee decides to confront the chaser then the rats will enter the next stage of agnostic behaviour. The rats may face each other with chattering teeth unsheathed, hold out and vibrate their tails, hiss, arch their backs, and puff out their fur.
g) After a fight rats may be very quiet and appear timid for an hour or so even to the point where they are unresponsive to calls and shy from handling. This doesn't just apply to the submissive rat. Both the dominant rat, or both rats in the case of a stalemate can display this timid behaviour. While in this state a rat's movements will be very slow and cautious and give the impression of a state of shock. As the rat begins to settle it may groom itself and begin to explore. Keep a close watch of your rats to see if the agnostic behaviour continues or if they settle back into a peaceful existence. Even if peace is maintained for a few days after a fight, a rat may be skittish and panic or take flight very quickly if it feels threatened. This applies to human contact as well and it may be best not to initiate anything too physical. It's important to be very sensitive at this stage and allow your rat time to recover. h) Once a dominant hierarchy develops you may rarely see agnostic behaviour venture past that of a threat. However, rats have unique and complex characters and there's no guarantee that a dominance hierarchy will develop to the stage where peace will prevail. If you have a particularly combative cage then it's time to think about separation. It's better to pay extra attention to a lone aggressive rat and a peaceful cage than a stressful cage of biters and fighters.
In addition to the above, Rat Behavior and Biology (Anne's rat page), is well worth a look for more comprehensive information on aggression. |
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b) A confrontation may be the result
of a play fight that has become aggressive, a territorial dispute, or a
dominance dispute. One rat may chase another rat and nip them on the rump
or further up towards the back of the neck.
This may be a short event if the escapee outruns or finds safe ground from
the chaser.
e)
If the aggression doesn't subside at this stage then rats move into a
physical combat stage. Rats will begin to barge each other in a test of
strength by lining up side by side and pushing with their lower region and
shoulders. You may also see a rat kick with his hinds legs or push with
his front paws. This may be followed by both rats raising up on their hind
legs and sparring nose to nose with their heads raised and teeth
chattering. Such a sight is disturbing to watch but I continue to allow my
rats to reach this stage as it may help to create a dominant and more
peaceful hierarchy if the aggression ends with one rat accepting its
submissive role.
f) On the occasions where the
initial threats and physical combat do not settle the situation, a fight
may develop with the rats locking into a roll. It's at this stage that
teeth may be used and one or both rats take a bite. A fight can be over
very quickly with one (or both) rats running away.