Pumpkin mounting his new baby sister.

Ann333 · Mar 13, 2016

So i know how important quarantine is, but i gave my breeder money to get the new baby tested and her vet said the baby was clean. I will have them both retested soon as well by my own vet. So this morning I had them eating breakfast together. They were getting along as well as can be expected. An hour later, they were on the playgym and Pumpkin started mounting the baby and - what I can only guess - was masterbating. Is this dominance behavior or breeding behavior or something else? I washed and rearranged the play gym so it would be new to both of them and Pumpkin would be less territorial. Should I discourage this behavior and if so how? Pumpkin is 1 year and 5 months old. This baby is only about 6-7 weeks old.

JerseyWendy · Mar 14, 2016

Ann, I'm fairly certain Pumpkin's behavior was sexually oriented, and I would highly discourage it. :11: You can't really eliminate the masturbation (where there's a will .... he'll find a way, but I would NOT allow him to mount the new baby)

You said they were getting along 'as well as can be expected'. What do you mean by that?

Ann333 · Mar 14, 2016

Well at first he was being rough with her. Biting her toes and it would look like he was preening her but she would scream. He has stopped hurting her, but now he keeps trying to knock her over and climb on top.

She is just a baby, she asks him to feed her. She follows him around everywhere but I think it is because she is so young. I am pretty sure the behavior is one sided....for now.

JerseyWendy · Mar 14, 2016

This is merely a recommendation, nothing more: Instead of letting them actually interact, I'd have them out at separate times for the time being.

Is your baby girl completely weaned? For a young male, a female begging to be fed MAY indicate to him she wants something entirely different - if you get my drift. :54: And Pumpkin's hormones must be going off the wall because of it.

He could also quite easily injure her if she's 'unwilling' toward his 'advances'.

She is probably still quite overwhelmed from being in a brand new place, and you don't want Pumpkin stressing her unnecessarily. She's used to being around her clutch mate(s), she doesn't understand why he's rough with her.

Again, JMVHO.

You want her to bond closely to you - not to Pumpkin.

Ann333 · Mar 14, 2016

Okay I can do that. I do feel bad because that is taking time away from Pumpkin being out of his cage. But I do agree I don't want him to stress her out, I do want her to bond with me, and I don't want poor Pumpkin to be frustrated either. I agree keeping them separate for now is probably best. She is fully weaned. My breeder said she has been completely refusing formula and eating on her own for a while. She is skinnier than pumpkin but as I understand that is to be expected at this stage.

Will they ever be able to be friends? I was really hoping they could interact out of the cage.

JerseyWendy · Mar 15, 2016

I think there's a good chance they will be friends, yes.

After she's settled in well and has gotten to know her new home and surroundings I'd give it another try and let them out together - highly supervised, of course. A little 'nit picking' is normal, but I'd intervene immediately if you see any biting. And definitely intervene if Pumpkin is still feeling 'frisky' with her.

Ann333 · Mar 15, 2016

Thank you for all of your help!!

Pumpkin mounting his new baby sister.

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