For those with rats as pets....

[rockrgrrl]

I had every intention on just going to pick up feeders today (frozen & live) but somehow was sucker'd in to bringing home two little Dumbo Males.

I'm curious as to if anyone has had their males neutered? Does it help much with thier odor or marking territory?

[frankykeno]

I've never had a male rat neutered but normally rats, males and females, do not have a strong scent as compared to most of the rodent group. Both male and females rats basically piddle as they go and I'm not sure if neutering/spaying would stop that rattie sort of behaviour.

Likely a good small animal vet could address some of your questions. We do have a few vet techs as members that might know how common fixing rats is, as well as a number of members that keep rats as pets.

[littleindiangirl]

I don't neuter my boys that are just pets. They have never fought and I doubt that they would. They do still piddle when they run around, it's how they mark where they've been, and how to get back to certain spots. It's making a little map for them, so I don't mind it.

I wouldn't call it marking territory like a dog or cat, but it can be seen as such. I really haven't noticed any odor from letting them run around, but they dont get to do it 24/7. Just an hour a day to say hi.

If you want to neuter for safety reasons, my opinion is that if they are raised together and kept together, they won't have a problem. This is just my experience with my boys. Good luck!

[ADEE]

I had my male naked neutered so he could live with my girls.. he did surprisingly well and it wasnt too expensive. If you only have the two boys it isnt really nessesary to get them fixed, they should live together fine. i just did it because i didnt want my single male being alone and we didnt want babies either.

[rockrgrrl]

I suppose my biggest concern was the fighting isses (as they got older) and the odor. Good to know that rats do not have a strong scent as compared to most others in the rodent group. I've kept mice in the past and that was almost unbearable at times.

Thanks everyone for the advice! BTW... Here's a picture of Buddha & Buddy!

[Bruce Whitehead]

Thems are some cute rats!

I haven't had the same issues as far as marking goes... I had mice briefly and caught them squirting between cages and it was enough to say "MICE GOTTA GO!!!!"

But one of my older males, doesn't do well with the other males, and is solitary when he's not breeding. He is waaaay competitive. And I did catch him once spraying another male.

But he is a black self, and I have heard others say that their black selves tend to be a bit harder to manage.

But if you aren't circulating them through the females, you shouldn't have any concerns with them.

Bruce

[SatanicIntention]

If you get males neutered early, they won't develop the buck grease that males normally get as they are maturing. They will also not mark as much, nor will they smell like intact males. I prefer them to be neutered, but with 10 boys, and $35 a pop, it's not very feasible right now

Also, making sure they are eating a good diet and not the pre-mixed junk sold at pet stores, will greatly decrease the smell factor(as well as ensure they will have a long, healthy life ahead of them). Have a high quality lab block and a high quality homemade food mix to supplement. NO Citrus fruits ever for males or females, it will cause kidney failure and cancer.

[frankykeno]

Male rats, if they are socialized within the male group, even when they rotate out to breed, are generally accepted right back into their core social group. Rats know which rat goes where in that social order and as long as everyone fits their place there is rarely a problem. You'll get the occasional rat that is picked on constantly or is a bully but generally there's nothing more than a bit of scuffling or boxing which is totally normal for social creatures like rats to do.

All our adults know that if they get nasty tempered I'll holler and sharply rap their enclosure. This teaches them early on I guess that I'm boss rat and they will break up any fight and run to cuddle each other if I do that LOL. I swear they likely mumble about me after I leave like a bunch of teenage boys that got caught being too rough...."geeze she's mean! we were just goofing around! geeze!"

Also to be honest, if I have a rat that beats up on other rats badly or is nasty with me, I cull it. Feeders or not, I'm not into breeding nasty tempered animals.

[lillyorchid]

Joanna you hit the nail right on the head. I swear that is exactly what I do and how I do things with my rats too.

I've never gotten any of my male rats neutered. They imo are fine being intact. I've yet to own any nasty male rats that didn't get along with the other males. Yes they do have a "musky" smell to them, and they do mark... but I don't find that to be offensive or a problem. Then again I've own rats most of my life so I'm used to them doing what all rats do. On the other hand, I've had some female rats who were just crazy and mean as all heck. Like Jo said pet or not, I do not accept rough boys or girls and will not have a mean rat in my rat colony.

I'm use you won't have a problem with those two little guys who are so adorable!

Rats do make awesome pets!!! They remind me of little cats. I'll probably always have at least one pet rat in my life at all times.

[tigerlily]

I did have a couple pet rats neutered, and have to concur with Becky. I'd prefer them neutered, but now that I breed for food that just doesn't work in my current situation.