Question about weird rat behavior?

Question

I'm a new rat owner, I got the first one Nekko about two weeks ago, he's been a delight and warmed up pretty quick to me. A week after I got Nekko, I got Remmy. Remmy was very scared and even bit me twice, I'm in the process of trust training him at the moment, and he's much better since I first got him. Here's what I'm so confused about...

Remmy trashes the cage, I call it his own inter decorating. I had a nesting box I made out for a small box for Nekko and had put cut up little piece of towels in it to lay in. He loved it, never had a problem. When Remmy came along, he pulls out the towels every night and moves the box around. He also goes this with the litter box I made for them to use. He's laying in it as I type. This morning I woke up and all of the bedding and poop was dug out of the box and all over the bottom of the cage. I cleaned the cage and put less bedding in the box (although I didn't have much in there in the first place. I also tied the litter box and the nesting box to the cage bars so he can't move them around anymore. He still tries though.

Another thing is he moves toys around and a little cardboard roll I put in there. He also will throw the toy balls out of the cage door when it's open and bite at the towel I have on the bottom of the cage. I don't know what his deal is, I find it funny, but weird.

OH! He also really wants to be in my other rats butt, what's up with that? He will chase Nekko around trying to get in his butt to sniff and finally Nekko stops running and Remmy is lifting his tail sniffing his butt and what looks like licking it. He also wants to sniff his butt when he's pooping. Lol.

Sheena · Accepted Answer

some rats really throw things about in their cage.

I'd definitely check Remmys gender though. cage trashing tends to be more a female activity, as a nesting behaviour, so I would consider that a possible reason and worth finding out sooner rather than later.

? · Answer

It sounds like Remmy is just being a rat. Some rats like to redecorate, while others couldn't care less. Remmy is acting completely normal. I have one cage specifically for my "Interior Designers" who happen to be 2 active young girls. Everything is tied down and secure to prevent a huge mess in the morning. I always leave in some moveable items like balls and chews for them to do as they please, but for the most part all the important things are secure.

One of the girls also would dig out the litter box, so I made her a "digging box" and put it near the litter box. It didn't completely stop the habit, but it kept her digging instincts occupied.

The sniffing is normal too. Just like dogs, when rats greet each other, they will sniff each other's butts.

Finn · Answer

Remmy is just being a rat, all rats are different, The second I finish cleaning my girls cage and get it set up how I want, they move everything around and rip the liners, And sniffing/licking his butt is pretty normal, even males humping eachother is normal aswell as females, my girls hump eachother when they are in heat :P

Teeyairuh · Answer

This is very normal rat behaviour. :) Rats love to chew, tear, burrow, and nest, rearranging everything. I always know that anything I put in my boys cage will be torn apart and rearranged the next day lol. 

As for the bum sniffing, this is also very normal. It's part of getting to know eachother and figuring out who will be the dominant rat. Remember to always take precaution when putting two stranger rats together, it can be extremely dangerous. Always take the right precautions: Here is a guide if you ever need: http://ratguide.com/care/behavior/introducing_rats.php

? · Answer

It a different environment and Lark is just getting used to it and finding a comfy spot to sleep. You should probably take Lark to the vet to be checked out for the sneezing. Myco can progress very quickly even if it just seems like sniffles right now it could be myco starting.

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Question about weird rat behavior?

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