Post Punk Kitchen Forum

I've just made the discovery that one my rats is actually female (I have 3, all previously thought to be males). I don't have another cage to keep her in, and even if i got one, I'd also have to get another girl to keep her company and I don't actually have the space in my room as it is/

But, I don't want to give her back to Ben (that's my friend who was keeping them for me before). And he suggested that I swap her for another boy. But she's not replaceable. In fact, if I had to choose a favourite, she would be it.

And now it's nearly 1 am but I'm too sad to sleep. because I know I'm probably going to have to give her back but I really don't want to. Damn it! Also, I'm angry that he said she was a boy without properly checking. I feel like crying now.

I'm sorry; that sounds sad. It sounds like you looked at all your options, and keeping her just isn't one. That stinks. A friend of mine had a male and female rat, and after one litter of oopsie rat babies, she had the male neutered. She said the procedure is relatively inexpensive and safe for males. Something to think about?

That was my first thought too. Neutered male rats are also generally more cuddly towards other rats (but I guess yours like each other anyway).
I was so lucky that the five baby rats that one adopted rat once birthed at my place all turned out to be girls! I hope you can keep your girl too!

Is having your male rats neutered an option?

Another vote for getting the boys fixed. If you can afford it, it can also give them a few extra years.

eta: reasons to fix yours boys: no buck grease. reduces aggression. can house with females after 3 weeks. longer life span. softer coat. reduces smell

also for the girls side from my rat-loving-friend:
there's more health benefits to getting the girl spayed. reduces cancer by 80-87%
considering the cancer in females has a 78% pervalance rate
also. if the female has been in with the male more then 5 days and is older then 5 weeks she's probably pregnant

fork I wish I hadn't listened to him when he insisted that all 3 of them were boys.
I've separated them now obviously. But I don't know if she is already pregnant, so I'm going to have to see about that before I decide anything. :(