Why Do My Rats Fight At Night?
Have You Added a New Rat Recently?
If there is a new rat in the home, it’s likely that there is going to be some ongoing dominance fights. When a new rat is added to a colony, the pecking order is disturbed. Therefore, all of the members of the colony will struggle to hold onto their positions, often picking on those who are lower on the totem pole. After a few weeks, this should subside.
Are There Any Pregnant Rats?
If you happen to have a pregnant doe, then you may have some fights breaking out as she nears her due date. Some does are very docile, and are not aggressive at all. Other does will try to attack any living thing (including the owner) that comes anywhere near the proposed nest. If this is the case, separate the doe immediately.
Are The Rats Fighting Over Delicious Treats?
If you offered your rats a treat before going to bed, it’s possible that they stashed it for later. During the night, this stash may run low; therefore, the rats will chase and tumble over one another in an effort to get the last tasty morsel. This may sound like a series of light squeaking rather than higher pitched squealing that accompanies a fight. To keep things a bit quieter at night, avoid feeding them anything special during the afternoon or evening hours, unless they finish it shortly thereafter. Instead, give them all of the fun treats early in the morning!
Are Wild Mice or Rats Coming Near Your Rats?
If wild mice or rats are visiting your rats in search of food or females, you may hear a bit of a racket during the night. Wild rats are no exception when it comes to a pecking order for your rats, and the scent of a new rat could start fights among the rats that are higher in the pecking order.
If you find that wild rats or mice are the cause, I highly recommend controlling and eliminating the indoor population as soon as you can. This is due to the diseases that they could introduce to your pet rats, which could in turn make you or your family sick. There are so many catch and release traps that you can use that are human and safe.
Rough Housing: Be Sure That They Aren’t Just Playing!
Rats love to rough house, especially when they’re feeling particularly hyper. Most nights, I’d be woken up to the sound of a dozen mischievous rodents flipping dishes, terrorizing colony members, knocking houses off of shelves, shredding paper, and tumbling each other down the ramps. It sounded like the rats had shared an energy drink right after I’d gone to sleep every night (which obviously wasn’t the case, but they acted the part!)