Food dominance?

[welshwitch]

Hi all,

My girlfriend currently has two lovies, and while she's had lovies for years this is the first time she's had more than one. They were getting along wonderfully for some time in the same cage, but recently one has apparently begun to keep the other away from the food and he lost a lot of weight. They're separated and fine now, but any ideas why things might have changed or how we can re-train the one? Thanks.

[LauraO]

Sometimes lovie relationships change as they age or one of them gets nesty. It's hard to give a good answer without knowing more about the lovies like how old they are, how long they've been living together, does the dominant one just control the food or are there other issues, do you know the sex?

I think putting them in separate cages is good, but if they get along I'd still let them have out of the cage time together. You could also put the cages side by side so they can still visit. If you do try and put them back in together I suggest putting up two or three food bowels.

How are they reacting to being caged separately?