Do rats get depressed?

[littleindiangirl]

My boys have been separated for the first time this past weekend and put in with a couple of girls to start the breeding.

My fatty, lil pimp, just seems depressed. He doesnt want any treats, he doesnt want his girlfriend, he just wants to lay around. He doesnt even want to come and chill with us, which is something he is always itching to do.
The other male, is holding up better. he likes his girl, they sleep together and groom each other, and play together. Its just my fat boy. The girl doesnt seem to mind. She does her own thing... I guess he'll come around?

Anyone else ever notice anything like this? I keep them as pets, not just breeders, so it bothers me.

[SatanicIntention]

It sounds like he's starting to get sick. Rats don't get depressed for no reason other than illness. I would separate him and try to get him into the vet. Is his breathing ok? Weight ok? Is he hydrated? How old is he?

[jglass38]

It sounds like he's starting to get sick. Rats don't get depressed for no reason other than illness. I would separate him and try to get him into the vet. Is his breathing ok? Weight ok? Is he hydrated? How old is he?

I was under the impression that rats were extremely social and if kept alone would get depressed.

[SatanicIntention]

Only if you don't give them enough attention. This rattie though is kept with a female, and has no reason to be depressed other than the possibility of being sick. Being a prey animal, they don't show sickness when in the presence of other rats, it shows weakness. The best thing to do in this situation is to separate him and see if he shows signs of actually getting sick or he gets better because the female was being dominant and picking on him.

[littleindiangirl]

I did notice that the girl REALLY did not like him at all.

He's up now, I'll separate and monitor and keep yous updated.

[frankykeno]

I'm assuming this is a first cycle in for breeding with all these rats? Also you refer to him as a "fatty". Is he actually really fat? Male rats in my experience have a real tendency to pack on the weight and that leads to illness and lazy breeders so if he is really chubby that needs to be dealt with for his sake as both a pet and a breeder male.

It may be that the female's not in heat quite yet (they go into breeding cycles about every 4 or 5 days) so she's rebuffing any advances and he's just waiting it out till she likes him better. He's likely a bit confused as to where his buddy went and who this bossy female rat is LOL.

I try to put experienced breeders in with newbie breeders...seems to sort of help them figure out what's going on that first time through the breeding tubs. We've got a virgin male in right now on his first try with a couple of mature girls who know what's up. He's currently driving them nuts and basically doing backflips he so over excited about this deal LOL. Every once in awhile one of the mature females gets bored with his antics and wrestles him down (poor guy this has GOT to be tough on the whole big male macho rat imagine).

I'd keep an eye on this male. See if he is sick or just confused and being picked on by the female. Some males just never do make great breeders but he could always just be a buddy to the other one when he's not in breeding the two females.

[littleindiangirl]

I've switched the girls. The really over dominate one is now with the laid back male, they are getting along fine, grooming, sleeping together etc. [maybe he is the pimp of the two lol]

And I've switched lil pimp to the quieter girl. He got all kinds of excited over her. She took it really well, and now I guess the novelty has worn off. Their doing fine.
I guess the bossy girl just didnt like him. Weird.

And yes, this is the first breeding cycle.

And yes, lil pimp is fat. I've taken away the free feeding from him [about 3 weeks ago], his rate of growing, and getting fatter, has slowed down tremendously. He's got a tree to run around on now too. Hopefully keep him in shape lol.