[kkdepp]

I am thinking about getting my 2 males neutered so my boys and girls can live together. Is this ok or can somethign happen-aggresive fighting....

I am looking at sveral vets in my area and their prices....

 

[Mana]

I don't have personal experience with this yet (not for another week and a half when I can begin intros!), but from everything I've heard, males and females live together wonderfully

 

[Kimmiekins]

Mixed-gender cages (when at least one gender is fixed) works out better then single-sex cages, from what I'm told.

Do wait at least 3 weeks, up to a month (I hear conflicting things on this - can someone say for sure?) before putting males with females after neutering, so all the stuff can leave the body.

 

[OnlyOno]

i think 3-4 weeks is about right for a ratty, it depends on each rat, but yeah. and i think it takes longer with males than females generally. in cows and horses it is even longer, not that that was relevant in any way.

 

[renay]

It is important that you netuer the males rather than spay the females (or do all 4) because intact males will fight over the females whether they're spayed or not. I don't see why they couldn't coexist together. But as mentioned, it is important to make sure all i'm guessing it would be testosterone? will have left they're bodies so that they don't have any manly urges, so its not quite as simple as getting them neutered and beginning the intro right away.

 

[Chivahn]

It is important that you netuer the males rather than spay the females (or do all 4) because intact males will fight over the females whether they're spayed or not. I don't see why they couldn't coexist together. But as mentioned, it is important to make sure all i'm guessing it would be testosterone? will have left they're bodies so that they don't have any manly urges, so its not quite as simple as getting them neutered and beginning the intro right away.

I've always heard the opposite - spay the females to reduce the risk of mammary tumors.

 

[Mana]

Spaying the females is definitely more beneficial health-wise. But I don't know whether or not intact males would fight over spayed females. I don't see why they would, especially if the males already get along.

 

[mopydream44]

If it's suppose to be 3-4 weeks I'd wait the 4 JUST IN CASE

 

[kkdepp]

I'm not sure now if the boys or the girls should be neutered/spayed now....My boys aren't really aggressive but they do wrestle around with each other a lot....never any injuries though....I know when the females are spayed it greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors but I thought I read that the boys could fight over the girls....I'll read some more on it but lots of input is welcome

 

[Poppyseed]

I don't really think they would fight over them. It really depends on the rat. The females don't go into heat after being spayed so really don't attract male attention like they use to. Not only that, when a female isn't spayed male behavior seems to be all males chasing after her taking turns. It's not a fight for situation seen in other mammals. It's more like a line >_>

 

[kkdepp]

So would it be best to neuter the males or spay the females

 

[Mana]

I would spay the females. Even if for some reason your boys do fight and can't get along with each other with the girls around, your girls will live longer, healthier lives. The only reason I didn't get my girls spayed was because it's so much more expensive and I just couldn't afford two spays.

 

[reachthestars]

Well, my neutered male will still hump females when they're in heat. The girls eem to enjoy it.... *shrug*

On that note, I must say I love having a neutered male in my mishief (but not as much a the girls!). It girls the girls a big squishy pillow, and for the most part he's no different than any other rat in a cage.

 

[2manyrats]

Curiously, after I had my most dominant male neutered because of aggression/biting issues, he stayed the top-dog in the cage. He has little interest in the girls when he hangs out with them, and his aggression issues are much better, but he's still dominant! Weird.

Wait, that really didn't help with your question, did it? Except I concur with the previous statement that male rats don't fight over females to copulate... they're into a gang/line-style thing.

 

[kkdepp]

I've heard getting boys neutered is cheaper....& I'm on a limited budget....and if it really is just a personal preference then I think I might just get the boys neutered....I would love to get ALL of them done but I don't have that $ right now