Male/Female Cage-mates

[Aquilus]

I was wondering if anybody had experience with this combonation. I would like to get a male rat to put in with my female (her original cage-mate recently died of chronic respitory problems). I didn't know if there would be any aggression issues or watnot. The male would be nutered of course, I have absolutely no want or need for a bunch of little ratties all over the place. <<; Just two, k thks bai.

I guess I'd like to have the personality variety between a highly energetic female and a more docile male. Just wondering about the do's and don'ts of this mix. I've only ever had two females togeher~

[AMJ087]

I keep a male and a female together. Spayed and neutered obviously haha.  I Love it! I wouldnt have it any other way. I love the different personalities and how they interact with each other while playing. I also love that dominance is usaully established and no fights really take place. I mean I would love any rats I had to death regardless of who they were hpused with but I LOVE LOVE LOVE have one of each.

[Lea]

@Aquilus: you might consider adding 2 rats instead of one, so that you won't be left with a lone rat again in the future.  Hope you don't mind if I add a few more questions on this topic.

@experts: Are introductions between sexes easier than between same sex groups?  What if you add a pair of un-neutered boys to a group of spayed girls? Will they still be more likely to fight even though the girls are not going into heat?  Are the original dominance patterns among the female and male groups disrupted after putting them all together?

[AMJ087]

I know that introductions go easiest with boys and girls together. The hardest is two boys together and two girls are in between.