So I have to lop boys, Odin and Otto. They are nearly 5 months old and up until 2 weeks ago they were perfectly happy together.

2 weeks ago I came in from work and went to let the boys have a run around, Otto was acting strangely – backing up into the corner of the cage, running away from me and Odin. I sat with the boys for hours and apart from Otto acting a bit strange still, they were fine. That night I put them in separate cages just to be safe, but pulled the cages together so they could sleep side-by-side, which they did.

The following day I let them out again however this time there was chasing. I made noise but it didn’t stop Odin from chasing Otto and pulling out hair. In the end I had to pick up Odin mid-chase. I separated the two boys but they’d keep going up to one another and sniff.

I took them both to the vet to get them neutered however Otto only has one descended testicle so he was unable to be neutered . Odin has been neutered now and the vet informed me that I could try them back together after about a week. They spent the entire week apart at each other’s cages sniffing and lying together.

So the day of reintroduction has arrived and within 30 seconds of me opening their cages Odin charges for Otto, and Otto flees. So it’s back to being separated. But again they do the same thing, sniffing and lying together even though they’re apart.

This morning I let them out together but have a divide between them. I sat with them for 2 hours and they were fine. I left them alone for 15 mins and when I returned Odin had managed to escape his divide and made his way in to Ottos. I caught him chasing Otto and there was fur In the run and cage although no blood has been drawn. I sat with them for an hour and there was minimal chasing but no fur pulling.

I’m not too sure what to do with them. After Otto has been chased he’ll hide for a few minutes or sit in the corner of a cage but then he’ll approach Odin and sniff him and there will be no chasing. On other occasions they can both me minding their own business, Otto will thump and run and then Odin will chase him.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I’m totally unsure what to do. They don’t seem to be able to live with one another but can’t live without each other either.