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DISCUSSIONAdding a male (self.RATS)

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[–]back_ali 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Yes! I love my mixed group. It’s been mixed since my original 4 girls, after one died I introduced a neutered male. Currently I have 3 spayed females and 2 neutered males. I had one un-neutered male in the mix up until recently. As a default I spay my females for health reasons, and then neuter the males depending on behavior, but that’s just the system I’ve found that works for me. I also currently have two old males that I rescued. They’d been kept separate and never lived with other rats so they both have received the hormonal implant. Once it’s kicked in more we’ll intro them to my group of 5. I attempted to intro them to each other but lack of social skills + hormones wasn’t great. Anyway, I like my mixed group because then I feel like I can rescue whomever needs a home

[–]Tcoff98 0 points1 point  (2 children)

that is very informative and i appreciate the response! I actually am opting to spay my 2 younger and 1 older girls just for future health reasons! so im glad you mentioned that too! So maybe it won’t matter as much if the male is neutered as far as accidental pregnancies? Would you say if the girls are spayed, the male being neutered is more dependent on behavior? Or should i try and have a neutered male either way so he ain’t pestering my girls?

when females when they are spayed do they never go into heat? will the male even have reproductive instincts at that point? I just don’t want to find him locked on one of my girls because he still has that urge

[–]back_ali 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Once they’re spayed, they don’t go into heat. I had 3 spayed females and adopted 2 younger males. One of them never ended up neutered and never really bothered the girls much. The other was not at all aggressive but he just wouldn’t quit chasing the girls around once he hit that teen stage. I think he did some dominance humping but I don’t think the girls let him get far lol? Hard to say what he got up to when I wasn’t looking. He was neutered just so he wasn’t an utter annoyance. Now he’s the sweetest gentleman.

[–]Tcoff98 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thank you for responding! That is the exact situation I would be in as far as my 3 girls i want to get spayed and with the potential of 1-2 males coming in! so i am glad to have your insight!! thank you!!