Post by eleda on Dec 19, 2014 14:14:49 GMT -8
So, Jean Luc and Data have been living in a split tank (in the same bedding they had when living together) for a little while due to a vet-induced separation. I've been giving them visiting hours occasionally (though not as often as I'd like since I've been so busy with the holidays coming up =( ) During previous visits, they've both been tense with lots of back-arching going on in between grooming each other and lots of standing-next-to-each-other-nose-to-rump-completely-still-ness.
Today, they've been more relaxed with each other. There has been some grooming and some stand-stilling. There is a nest under the corner shelf in their tank and they both prefer it to the open-air nest on the other side. So they've been "sharing" it off and on (for the past like 10-15 mins) Sometimes one will wander out and then sort of need the other's "permission" to reenter. They stand still nose-to-nose for a bit and then either sit back where they are or one sort of pushes his way into the nest and the other deals with it.
A few moments ago, they were sharing the nest pretty peacefully and then all the sudden a scuffle broke out. It looked sort of like a ball-fight except a bit slower paced and every few seconds they'd pause and lay still. It wasnt as intense as a true ball fight, but more intense than boxing. I broke it up by gently nudging one away from the other. No one got hurt. But I found this to be weird behavior. Someone once used the term "static ball" and I wonder if this is what they meant maybe? But there was quite a bit of scuffling between pauses so I'm not sure it qualifies.
Since the scuffle, they seem a little more tense with each other but so far their behavior toward each other has been decent. They go back and forth between being sort of huffy to grooming each other. Bottom line, I think they're sorting out who is dominant still, but that scuffle was weird. Anyone know how to interpret that?
Edit:
About 15 minutes after the original post, another scuffle broke out. This one started out as them standing on their hind legs sort of pushing on each other but also remaining very still. then, data pushed jean luc and because of his bad leg, he was unable to compensate and fell over. Then they began start-and-stop scuffling again but with a bit more intensity than before. "Gentle nudging" was not enough to separate them this time. I had to pick up Jean Luc (who was on top at the time) and when I did Data came with him briefly, then fell back into the tank. So, I think there was definitely biting this time. Data went to the shelf side of the tank so I put Jean Luc on the other side. They immediately tried to get back at each other, but I kept them apart with my hands until I could get the divider back in. I checked them both and I didn't find any blood, so all three of us got through it without serious injury, but this is very discouraging. Is what I'm seeing basically just mild fighting? Aggressive behavior? Should I give up on re-introducing them?
Today, they've been more relaxed with each other. There has been some grooming and some stand-stilling. There is a nest under the corner shelf in their tank and they both prefer it to the open-air nest on the other side. So they've been "sharing" it off and on (for the past like 10-15 mins) Sometimes one will wander out and then sort of need the other's "permission" to reenter. They stand still nose-to-nose for a bit and then either sit back where they are or one sort of pushes his way into the nest and the other deals with it.
A few moments ago, they were sharing the nest pretty peacefully and then all the sudden a scuffle broke out. It looked sort of like a ball-fight except a bit slower paced and every few seconds they'd pause and lay still. It wasnt as intense as a true ball fight, but more intense than boxing. I broke it up by gently nudging one away from the other. No one got hurt. But I found this to be weird behavior. Someone once used the term "static ball" and I wonder if this is what they meant maybe? But there was quite a bit of scuffling between pauses so I'm not sure it qualifies.
Since the scuffle, they seem a little more tense with each other but so far their behavior toward each other has been decent. They go back and forth between being sort of huffy to grooming each other. Bottom line, I think they're sorting out who is dominant still, but that scuffle was weird. Anyone know how to interpret that?
Edit:
About 15 minutes after the original post, another scuffle broke out. This one started out as them standing on their hind legs sort of pushing on each other but also remaining very still. then, data pushed jean luc and because of his bad leg, he was unable to compensate and fell over. Then they began start-and-stop scuffling again but with a bit more intensity than before. "Gentle nudging" was not enough to separate them this time. I had to pick up Jean Luc (who was on top at the time) and when I did Data came with him briefly, then fell back into the tank. So, I think there was definitely biting this time. Data went to the shelf side of the tank so I put Jean Luc on the other side. They immediately tried to get back at each other, but I kept them apart with my hands until I could get the divider back in. I checked them both and I didn't find any blood, so all three of us got through it without serious injury, but this is very discouraging. Is what I'm seeing basically just mild fighting? Aggressive behavior? Should I give up on re-introducing them?