size for male breeder rat

i have two female rats--both about 5 months old or so. i have a male that i saved back from a batch of feeders i picked up--he's maybe about 8 weeks old. my question is, how close in size does the male need to be to the females before i can safely breed them? right now he is only about a third of their size--looks like he might make a tasty morsel for them if they decide they don't like him. :O

I think they would be fine together.. I've never had a female make a snack out of a male. ;) doesn't mean she won't teach him a thing or two.

hm ok, well i'll give them some supervised time together and see what happens. :)

lol shelby. anyway, there was some rats up at our other piece of property that ate each other, it was nasty

That is unusual for rats to seriously attack each other.

Mice, on the other hand are jumping at the excuse to butcher one another.

Our new male rat, Casanova, is quite a bit smaller and younger than our two females Emily and they did hassle him a wee bit for the first day or so. Nothing major, just giving him a bit of rat attitude LOL. Once he ummm got down to business they seemed to like him a whole lot better!


~~Jo~~

well my two girls are quite fascinated with their new little boyfriend. they cannot stop checking his...parts. it's hilarious, but i'm like--yes girls, he is a boy! how many times do ya need to check? that and the grooming--he's clean as a whistle now! :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shelby

That is unusual for rats to seriously attack each other.

Mice, on the other hand are jumping at the excuse to butcher one another.

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they were mice that are dad put in a bucket with no food or water to release in the morning. when he woke up they had ate eachother, probably for food or water.

LOL Emily! Yes rats are very ummmm sociable and errrrr friendly that way! :P

We had to laugh though at poor Casanova who would chase the girls, Cookie and Abby, when they weren't in the mood for his antics and squeak plaintively at them for attention. Kinda sad squeaky begging. Mike just shook his head and commented rather dryly..."don't beg them! they won't respect ya buddy boy!" ;)

~~Jo~~

nother question--is it ok to put a second male in with the girls or will the males fight? i have another little male that i want to keep so that male #1 will have a friend/cage mate when he isn't with the girls but seems i have heard that if the males don't grow up together they may not get along. is this true or should i just introduce them once i separate male #1 from his ladies (which won't be until i am pretty sure they are both pregnant)?