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Tail thumping?
So, I have a rat that had such a strong will to live(he jumpedout of two BP tubs during feeding) ........so I let him. I named him "Templeton" cause he's such a junk food junkie. Anyways, evey am and pm I pick him up, let him sit on my shoulder for a bit, and pet him, and give him peanut butter cookies. Well, this morning, while I was petting him in his tub, he started thumping his tail. I've seem the tail thumping before when I used to breed rats, but this was ususally when males were acting agressive toward one another. He was enjoying the petting, and he wasn't trying to bit me, or anything. In fact, he tilted his head while I scratched under his cheeks, clearly indicating he liked it. But why would he thump his tail at me? Perhaps someone with much more rat experience than I knows about this......(help? plz?)
ALL THAT SLITHERS - Ball Python aficionado/keeper
breeder of African soft fur Rats. Keeper of other small exotic mammals.
10 sugar gliders
2 tenrecs
5 jumping spiders
paludarium with fish
Brisingr the albino
Snowy the BEL
Piglet the albino conda hognose
FINALLY got my BEL,no longer breeding snakes. married to mechnut450..
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Re: Tail thumping?
Originally Posted by 4theSNAKElady
So, I have a rat that had such a strong will to live(he jumpedout of two BP tubs during feeding) ........so I let him. I named him "Templeton" cause he's such a junk food junkie. Anyways, evey am and pm I pick him up, let him sit on my shoulder for a bit, and pet him, and give him peanut butter cookies. Well, this morning, while I was petting him in his tub, he started thumping his tail. I've seem the tail thumping before when I used to breed rats, but this was ususally when males were acting agressive toward one another. He was enjoying the petting, and he wasn't trying to bit me, or anything. In fact, he tilted his head while I scratched under his cheeks, clearly indicating he liked it. But why would he thump his tail at me? Perhaps someone with much more rat experience than I knows about this......(help? plz?)
Like you said, tail thumping is generally considered a sign of aggression or dominance. That being said, I have seen a few tail thump for other issues. You might have just hit his itchy spot and it could be compared to a dog kicking it's leg.
If I had to guess, I'd say it might have been a dominance issue. He might have just been telling you he was boss.
Also, something you mentioned caught my attention. Does he head tilt often? It could be an inner ear infection or the spot you touched him could have been painful (tooth ache, etc), thus the tail thumping.
If he isn't doing it often, I wouldn't worry. Just keep an eye on him.
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BPnet Veteran
Re: Tail thumping?
The guy that you got him from probably just raised him to be a jerk LOL.
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Re: Tail thumping?
Originally Posted by tomfromtheshade
The guy that you got him from probably just raised him to be a jerk LOL.
ALL THAT SLITHERS - Ball Python aficionado/keeper
breeder of African soft fur Rats. Keeper of other small exotic mammals.
10 sugar gliders
2 tenrecs
5 jumping spiders
paludarium with fish
Brisingr the albino
Snowy the BEL
Piglet the albino conda hognose
FINALLY got my BEL,no longer breeding snakes. married to mechnut450..
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BPnet Veteran
Re: Tail thumping?
i believe i read somewhere that its a sign of contentment as well. so that means hes happy with you
1.1 het pied
1.1 butter
1.0 lemon pastel yellow belly
0.1 lemon pastel
and the addiction begins!
feeders(rats) - breeders(1.9) very happy male!
feeders(mice) - 2.5 breeders
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BPnet Veteran
Re: Tail thumping?
Also some missed it but they will do the tail when scared/stressed.
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Re: Tail thumping?
he is kind of a scaredy cat. I'll bet it's the scared thing. He even "cringes" whenever I open the treat sac, and it makes a bit of a crinkling noise.
ALL THAT SLITHERS - Ball Python aficionado/keeper
breeder of African soft fur Rats. Keeper of other small exotic mammals.
10 sugar gliders
2 tenrecs
5 jumping spiders
paludarium with fish
Brisingr the albino
Snowy the BEL
Piglet the albino conda hognose
FINALLY got my BEL,no longer breeding snakes. married to mechnut450..
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Registered User
Re: Tail thumping?
I've seen my mice do it when they are cornered by my bp. Fear
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