[Sparker]

Every time I have had one of my little men neutered, I always house them separately from the girls for at least four weeks. At some point, somewhere, I read/heard that is the thing to do. (Pos. Debbie D?)

Anyway, at work today we were discussing this sort of thing and the conversation went as follows:

Sarah (Me): "Well, you really should wait four weeks before introducing them to females."

Technician: "I thought it was six weeks..."

Technician #2: "I never bothered to separate them that long... more like two weeks..."

Sarah: "I'm pretty sure it is four."

Doctor: "Sarah, why?"

Sarah: "Uhhh..."

And that was when I realized that I am mildly stupid and had NO IDEA why or where I heard it.

Hormone changes? Surgery healing? :?

 

[Forensic]

I've always heard 3-4 week as that's how long viable sperm can remain in their system. Hormonal changes can take much longer than that. Healing depends on the rat, of course, and any complications.

 

[reachthestars]

My first neutered male I waited 2 weeks as per the vet's instructions. Having learned better, I waited 3 weeks for my second male. I was lucky and had no accidental litters with the first male, but it wouldn't be unheard of. 3-4 weeks is a safe time to wait.

 

[Sparker]

I'm glad to know that I was right. It was embarrassing, though ...

 

[Forensic]

What did the vet say the right answer was?

 

[Sparker]

See, I just went back there and talked to her and she laughed at the four week thing.

She said that it is biologically impossible for sperm to remain viable for more that 3 or 4 days. We even consulted the medical reference text and it said the same thing... 3 or 4 days.

She did say, though, that it does take 4-6 weeks for them to behave like neutered males and they should obviously stay separate for the sake of the surgical site. Maybe that was why and we are all just confused? Maybe it was Debbie D. (I think it was...) and she was wrong? She isn't a doctor, after all...

 

[Kimmiekins]

I'm not sure where it came from, but generally, most say 3-4 weeks. Hrm.

I think Debbie D. says 3... I think.

I don't know. That's something to spend some time with Google on.

 

[Sparker]

The thing is, though, I doubt that anything on Google will be more accurate or reliable than medical text.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that you should throw them together after four days - there needs to be healing time first - but 3-4 weeks for viable sperm might just be a misnomer.

 

[lilspaz68]

3 weeks for my vet too. Yes the majority of the sperm is not viable but just like a 5 week old baby girl getting pregnant, it can and does happen. Is it worth it?