Breeder male with feeder males, and keepers?

[stangs13]

I have decided to keep my breeder females in one tub, where I will breed them, and probably have them birth in, a tub for the feeder females, and keepers, and all the feeder males, and the breeding male when they arn't breeding.

Can I keep all the males together? A big breeder male, with weaners-small sized rats? Or should he get his own tank to himself( I hate keeping him alone). I don't want him to fight with the others, and waist my snake food! They wont be together to long, unless I decide to end up feeding live, then they will.

[Seneschal]

I don't see why not...I've only had one litter, but I put all of the 5-6 week old boys from the litter in with daddy while I was slowly feeding them off, and there were never any problems. I'd feel bad keeping him alone, too! I think they need company.

But then, that's just my opinion, and I am by NO means an expert. I'm just saying it worked fine for me, and I've heard of others doing that. If it's a big enough cage, I think you're fine.

[stangs13]

Thanks! I guess if it works for you it will probably work for me.

Anyone else have an imput to this?

[Dcommander]

well I keep my males together and i've had no trouble, just make sure ur tank is big enough, because over population WILL cause fights.

[littleindiangirl]

I have a HUGE companion male that likes to check out the new guys, he has to check the hell out of them quite literally, so personally I like to get mine to 5 weeks old before I let him make acquaintances. He is the sterling exception.

All of the other adult males get along with the weaners (4 wks) just fine.

[rabernet]

I always put weaners in with dad and grandpa - no problems.

[frankykeno]

You should have no problem at all. Male rats are quite good with younger males. In fact I often use one of my older or retired breeder rats to run herd in a feeder/grower bin. The mature rat helps establish a social order in there and keep the young rats from being hyper. Calm feeders eat more, run off their body weight less and in my larger rat bins that's important for me.

Just like anything though Justin, keep an eye out at first and just see that the big male is doing fine with the smaller ones. Individual rats can react out of the norm just like any living creature.

[stangs13]

Ok Thanks! I am kinda worried about my male rat. He has gotten skinneyer, and is alittle bony. I have been keeping weekly weights on him. He also is sluggish. He almost looks like he is old? I got him out of the small rat group. He was all healthy then. Just started getting scragly this past week. He is still eating. I hope hes ok! Maybe he needs to be put with his girls asap. But the girls arnt quite ready.

[littleindiangirl]

Any loss of weight is a sick rat, even if only a few grams. If you could, I would get him to a vet as soon as possible.

[stangs13]

Any loss of weight is a sick rat, even if only a few grams. If you could, I would get him to a vet as soon as possible.

I will try to get him to my vet. There is a chance I miss read the scale too...because it had him jumping up like 30-40 grams in one week! Not nearly as much as he was before. Thanks alot! Is there anything in the mean time I could give him?