Male Rats = Friends or Foes?

So I was given two female rats. I'm planning on breeding them and getting feeders...ect.

I was only planning on buying one male. But everything I've read says that rats are social and should be kept together. Should I buy two males then? I'm not planning on housing the male/s with the females all the time - just during the whoohaa period - so the male (if I only get one) will be on his own 90% of the time. Should I consider getting two? or will they fight and be mad and huffity and need to be separated?

Also - Because I've always wanted one, I'm planning on getting a hairless male, would it be a problem if I bought a furred male to be his cagemate?

You should definitely get two as they are very social.

You won't have any problem with keeping two males together. I would buy them as litter mates or gets them young and put them together. Rat breeders sell them in same sexed pairs so they always have a buddy. Male rats will play and groom each other. A hairless and furred will be fine. I have heard the hairless may have scratches on them from rough housing, but normally nothing serious.

Every man needs another man to share his mancave with.

Enjoy your ratters! They are a lot of fun and you will definitely get attached.

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Originally Posted by aldebono

Every man needs another man to share his mancave with.

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True That.

Thanks! :) I don't have many breeders around, and the last one I know of that bred hairless recently gave all their rats to the local petstore (divorce I guess) but they decided they may want them back. I'm going down today to find out what the verdict is.
Mainly because I want the male they have, and if I can find one, a black furred male. Would it be wiser to maybe wait? I'm not exactly sure of the age on the hairless, but hes adorable, and has already bred a few times (so I was told, and I trust the people at this pet store).

I'm assuming it would be easier to go with two from the same litter, but it is possible to mix them? I wasn't sure if there would be testosterone overload going on and end up with WWE smackdown in my rat room..

Depends on the male. Some are jerks and others are lovers.

My males love babies. If he has been around babies and is sweet to them, you could get a young black male. If he is in with any of his sons at the store, that would be ideal. But it should be fine with any younger male if he is not a jerk. If he is going to be mean, you will see it within the first few minutes and separate. Different litters will be fine, little rats get along like little kids.

Again, depends on his personality.

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Originally Posted by aldebono

Again, depends on his personality.

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All down to "Who's the big shot on the playground" sort of deal?

Yea it is. If the babies think hes a jerk you will know. They scream UNCLE! really loud even when hes just sitting on them. I still don't let him pick on babies, even if they are exaggerating. In my colonies, I like for my females to be boss, then I don't have worry if the male is bullying them, if I hear squeaks, I just know the girls are grooming him and hes being a wuss.

I don't keep males that cause problems with new females or not their own babies. I have enough to deal with.

Alright, Thanks for the advice! :)

If you breed two males with females and then put them back together in a cage "in my experience" they will beat the crap out of each other.

My males detest each other :P

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

If you breed two males with females and then put them back together in a cage "in my experience" they will beat the crap out of each other.

My males detest each other :P

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NONE of my breeding males get along. I can't even put them together to rotate the rats around, if i do they try to kill each other. Any other time they're nice and docile though...lol

I currently have 6 males that live together and are rotated with the girls and havent had any major problems.
When the "lucky" male gets put back in the man-cave, they all come over and check him out.:D

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

If you breed two males with females and then put them back together in a cage "in my experience" they will beat the crap out of each other.

My males detest each other :P

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X2. Once male rats breed move into 1.4 groupings, they never meet another male rat again at my place. Asking for problems from my experience. Just keep the male with the two females. Things will be just fine.

Regards,

B

My litters started getting smaller so now I rotate the males and I am giving the females time off after weaning.

I have two males that are litter mates and were being housed together. They used to get along great and cuddle and be all sweet. Then I started to rotate them in with the females for breeding. They started to fight a lot and relatively bad fights where blood was drawn and they both had noticeable bite wounds. I split them up and they are now both with females full time.

When I raised rats I had two hairless brothers that were raised together and I would rotate them between the girls and put them back together all the time. Never had any issues with them. Really depends on the rats

Hmm. Would it be better if I pair one male with one female, and always keep that same pair - but always put the four of them together at the same time?

I have 4 containers - one that the females live in, one the males will live in, and two others - should I use the two others to pair the males and females separate in separate containers, that way neither of the males is left in the "home tub" while the other is off getting nookie?

Would that potentially keep the males from hating on each other? Maybe getting a bath before re-introducing the boys?

I have a group of 5 males together. I haven't had any problems with them at all. Even when one is out on breeding rotation, the rest just greet him when I put him back into the boy bin. They were all raised together since weanlings and are well socialized. They play, groom, and cuddle with each other. They have an established hierarchy already, so I assume this is the reason why they don't fight. Most males who fight are trying to establish dominance and the right to mate.

Even when I put two males into the same female tub, they don't fight. They seemed to take turns doing their business (the more dominant going first of course). I guess I could compare this to a male lion coalition, where they share females or something...lol

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Originally Posted by Xotik

Hmm. Would it be better if I pair one male with one female, and always keep that same pair - but always put the four of them together at the same time?

I have 4 containers - one that the females live in, one the males will live in, and two others - should I use the two others to pair the males and females separate in separate containers, that way neither of the males is left in the "home tub" while the other is off getting nookie?

Would that potentially keep the males from hating on each other? Maybe getting a bath before re-introducing the boys?

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You could have one male w/ a group of females. This might be good if you don't want a lone male to be by himself. If you want to keep the genders separate, then that's fine too. Its just a matter of preference. I've done both ways. I personally like keeping the males separate.

A bath before reintroduction may work. And maybe don't keep him away from the 'boy tub' for long as he could lose his place in the hierarchy. I know a few people who breed show rats will only place a male w/ a female between a few hours to overnight, then reintroduce him back w/ the males.

In the end, I think it really just depends on the males if they fight or not.

Yep. Depends on the male. Right now I have my Siamese male and females together with my dumbo male and females. No problems. I also had my huge breeder male with his huge adult son in the same bin for months. No problems.

Maybe the word got out between my males that the jerks end up in the freezer.

I say go ahead and get the male you are in love with, see how it goes with supervision. Or keep him with the females 24/7 if he can't get along.

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Originally Posted by aldebono

Maybe the word got out between my males that the jerks end up in the freezer.

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Hehehe.

I went to speak to the rodent supervisor (she was out when I spoke to them originally) and she said there were actually two males that were already established on their own. I told her I would take both if the actual owners make up their mind (apparently they have a week to pick them up or the pet store will sell them). I really don't want to wait a week, but I'd rather wait for these two than buy regular ones from the box stores.

I think I will do my plan of pairing one female with one male, and make it so that when males meet females everybody is on neutral territory, and no one is left back in the "home" by themselves.

My daughter's pet ratties always get along.

Remmy was the oldest male, her first. When we got him a few girlfriends just before his midlife crisis, he was fantastic with the little ones. He went into a separate cage when the mommies were about to pop, just to give them a break. When the little fuzzes were weaned, they stayed with papa Remmy for a little while before being separated by sexes, and he adored the little ones. They'd all gang up on him and rough him all up, but he loved it.

Occasionally one would squeak, but Remmy always made them behave. When Shadow her Siamese male came to live with us, Remmy and his son Junior made him right at home. Shadow and Junior both love the little ones, and played happily with them whenever they could. When Remmy left us, Shadow stepped right in to the role of nursemaid to the little guys. What was hilarious considering he was well over a pound in weight and most of the babies were no bigger than his head!

When a lone male rescue came to live with us, Ambria introduced him to the "bachelor pad" and although he was very nervous at first { we think he'd never seen another rat }, the boys made him feel right at home. Shadow is no longer with us, but Junior and Ricky still love each other and still want to play with the babies.

So, it really does just depend on the rats. Even when Remmy or Junior or Shadow went to visit the ladies, that was just an excuse for an extra loving grooming when they got back to the bachelor pad.

Gale