when to get a male rat (now changed to IF)

[Petunia]

I really want a male rat. I've wanted one for some time.
I have four girls so of course I would have to get an already neutered boy, or get one and get him neutered.

It seems that there are far more intact males available for adoption, so that leaves me wondering,
do I get an older male and get him neutered?
or a young one who may be in better shape for surgery and heal faster than an older guy?

I prefer older rats but so many of them are overweight, I worry about how they would heal, would they be able to keep themselves clean enough to avoid infection?

I don't know a whole lot about males in general (of any species LOL)
I only know that I want a single male rat before I die- it's on my so called bucket list.

and while this isn't the best time financially, it's also not the worst- I have credit and I have some things I can sell to raise funds as needed.

It may very well be that the rats I have now will be the last rats I ever have, for various reasons.
SO I think the time is right to get my boy, if I am ever going to have one....


update: thought about one possible hitch to getting a male: all of my girls are getting along great right now- do I really want to risk upsetting that? I really don't want 6 rats, so If I got a male and he didn't get along with my girls (or they didn't like him) I'd need another male to keep the first one company, etc etc
I think I'll just wait.
I'm only 55, I shouldn't be kicking the bucket any time soon, right? :lol:
(I just feel like I might some days :roll: )

 

[Moon]

I would recommend going younger and neutering. Because you still need to wait 2-3 weeks post neuter to start intros.

 

[Petunia]

why younger Moon? the wait is the same regardless of age. the boy i'm looking at now is 9mos old, not really that old.
there's a few others but they are all babies and i really don't want a baby... around 4 mos would be the youngest i'd want to go, really

 

[Dazzle87]

Nine months is more than young enough to neuter. I've had spays which are more invasive done older and all went just fine.

 

[StaceyM]

I recently had two boys neutered to live with my group of girls. We guessed that they were both somewhere in the 9 month - year range.

One is very small and slim and the second is a huge squish. Both surgeries went very well. The larger boy did develop an absess at his neuter site, but it was quite a while later though. So not sure that it was related, or just a coincidence.

They are both now happily introed with my girls and everyone is doing well.

 

[Moon]

why younger Moon? the wait is the same regardless of age. the boy i'm looking at now is 9mos old, not really that old.
there's a few others but they are all babies and i really don't want a baby... around 4 mos would be the youngest i'd want to go, really

Oh I thought you meant OLDER... not... just older than a baby. LOL

Yes the wait time would be the same regardless but if you adopted say, an almost 2 year old male who had been alone forever and then he was waiting longer post neuter, that would just be sad for me and in and a lot can happen in a couple of weeks when they're getting on in years.

4 months, 9 months, a year old... Really all the same to me.

 

[jorats]

I've had males neutered at all ages, some as old at 24 months... I have an excellent vet and trust her completely, the only thing that factors in for the surgery is the health. You are going to love having a neutered male!

 

[hopefloats]

I would look at the 9 month old. Baby boys are super hyper and might stress your older girls. Most of my 9 months male rats are kinda laid back. I do have two 9 month old male rats that are still in baby pop-corning mode though. I dont think I would go solo for a baby just because they spend all day playing and would need someone to play with.

It really makes the dynamics change. I think my new favorite is seeing mixed sex groups and I have only had them living together for a week! Literally it makes me smile every single time I see one of my boys cuddling with my girls .......

 

[Joanne]

I have 4 older rats (over 2 years old): the mother, two sisters and one brother.
This winter I added 4 babies: two brothers and two sisters.
They are all spayed and neutered. They all live in my Double Critter Nation and play and sleep together, although the young rats are up playing a lot more than the oldies. It's a great combination and I highly recommend it!

 

[kelsey514]

Mainely Rat Rescue has older neutered males very frequently and they only charge $80 for the neuter fee and waive the adoption fee. They also frequently help with transport and I saw that you live in Manchester. I'm in Pelham. I just "reserved" three boys from them, they'll be coming home next week I think!

Mustang and Annie are a year and a half old. Mustang is neutered because he was beating up his brothers but now lives with Annie and he would do well with other girls.
Uncle Chester is almost a year old and neutered.
Bones and Duncan are almost a year old and both neutered, the bio says they are dolls