How to stop sibling bullying?

[Leo]

I have an elder sister and her younger brother (Indian palm squirrels,5weeks old,both opened eyes recently).ever since they opened eyes,the elder sister constantly spars with her brother whenever they are kept near to each other.both of them are since kept separate .they are occasionally put together to improve their bonding when I am with them,but have not showed any signs of improvement for a week now.will they ever reconcile or is it necessary that I should raise some separate?

[island rehabber]

If I were you I would keep them separated. You obviously are not going to release them in California, right? So my fear is that if they are kept together as pets the sister will continue to bully her brother to the detriment of his health and well-being.

[TubeDriver]

Some bullying can be expected but if the little one is not gaining weight or is really being battered than separate them.

Have had a couple sibling pairs and there is usually one that is dominant, at least at first. But usually within 1-2 months the weaker/smaller/more passive one will catch up and start to hold their own. Also, the little one did not seem terribly bothered by it so I felt it was just normal sibling stuff. But occasionally , bullying really becomes extreme/aggressive and sometimes the little one can't even get enough food. That situation is different and the little one should be protected so they can thrive too.

[Chickenlegs]

I have an elder sister and her younger brother (Indian palm squirrels,5weeks old,both opened eyes recently).ever since they opened eyes,the elder sister constantly spars with her brother whenever they are kept near to each other.both of them are since kept separate .they are occasionally put together to improve their bonding when I am with them,but have not showed any signs of improvement for a week now.will they ever reconcile or is it necessary that I should raise some separate?

Oh my gosh! Indian Palm Squirrels. I have adored them since first seeing them in Delhi years ago. Are they in California now? I have observed Palm Squirrels in many areas of India and observed adults but never babies. Gray and Fox squirrel babies can be bullies too. Mostly they love their siblings and nobody else. You may have two solo squirrels. I’d cage them next to each other if they just can’t get along. Time will tell, and like Pete said one is usually dominant but not really a bully—and the less dominant will catch up. Still, if separated, they’ll know each other by sight and smell and maybe they can be released in the same area—assuming Palm Squirrels are in that area.