How do you sex 5 week old rats?

[accidental777]

I have been having a really hard time finding female rats where I live, so I would like to hold back the female hooded rats from my litter of 12. I did at least try to look, but it all looks the same to me I would prefer to do it before the males get too big to feed off.
Is there any reliable way to do that this early??? Pics???

[accidental777]

Guess I found the answer already lol. I googled it, and found a very helpful web page. It also shows how to sex baby mice. Just in case anyone else needs it, here it is.

http://www.afrma.org/sexing101.htm

[SnakeGirl3]

Thanks for posting that! I wasn't able to tell the difference until they got up to weaned/small size before. Now that I know what I'm looking for, I was able to sort out to hold back 5 hooded females! The 3 hooded males I have can be food.

[accidental777]

Yep, as it turns out it is much easier to sex them when they first start growing hair. I will probably wait another week just to be sure. I have weanlings, so it makes it a little harder to see if they have nipples, especially when they are wiggling around. That and I don't see any testicles yet, I find it hard to believe that I got a whole litter of females lol. It would be nice.....but I am a bit skeptical.

[Doxster]

Good site, not the way I do it but I guess it works.

My way is a bit simpler, at least I feel that way. Pick a rat up, I always do it by the tail, wich makes the males draw their scrotum in. But if you hold it, and GENTLY apply some preassure on the stomach it will pop right back out, if nothing pops out you got a female. I have sexed rats as small as fuzzies with this method.

It's fast and easy and the best way I can imagine for me.