hi! can anyone advise me. i have 11 lovely lady rats living in one enormouse cage. nothing against the boys i just want to keep the one cage, problem is ,there is a beautiful male dumbo rat living in the local pet shop, he's been there about 3 weeks and is approx 3 months old and iv'e fell in love with him. nobody seems to want him and if he is sold i fear he will live his life out alone. i go in the shop about 4 times a week to cuddle him, his is sweet and tame and i really want him. now i need advice! i am considering buying him and having him castrated so he can live with my girls. i would introduce him after his op as i would any newcomer, slowly over a period of time, i have spare cages for such things. does anyone have any idea how long he would remain fertile after his op. does any one have an opinion on this matter. is it viable and is it moral. please help

I personaly wouldnt put him through the op if its not needed. It does have its risks and unless he is violent or ill it may just not be worth it. One of my males died a couple of weeks ago and we considered getting his brother "fixed" so he could live in with our girls but I decided it just wasnt worth the risk. He is much older though. About 2 years old.

id think about his quality of life....it wouldnt be much fun stuck in a petshop with no company etc, whearas with you, he could have a shot at a normal life and a home full of love. id think the benefits outweigh the drawbacs. ive had 2 rats neutered, both went fine and both are now much happier rats, and previously they werelone rescue rats i took in, now they all live in a group of 19.get your vet to check him over, and of hes given the all clear, id go for it!
generaly petshop rats have poorer health that their breeder counterparts, but hes only young, so thats with him
introductions with neutered rats go much easier than with entire rats, whether it be male or female, and males should be kept away from females for 2 weeks after the operation to make sure theres no live sperm left to impregnate one of your girlies!
id trust your gut on this one.

hi! thank you all for your advice. i bought him because i couldn't resist him and the vet gave him a clean bill of health. he was 'seen to' on tuesday and is absolutely fine. in two weeks time i will introduce him to his hareem of girls and he will have alovely spoiled life. he has a beautiful nature and it would have been sacrilage for him to live his life alone, i am spoiling him rotten, i have called him 'JASON'

i am sure jason will enjoy his hareem of girls.

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Jacky and the pet gang

I'm glad you solved your problem. Pictures are a must!

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i,m still trying to suss out how to post pictures, but as soon as i do i'll bombard the forum. it's 2 weeks now since Jason had his 'bits' dismantled and he's fine. he's still on his own but i plan to introduce him to all his lady friends on friday. i hope this will have been long enough to avoid any unwanted pregnancies. iv'e had litters before and i couldn't bear to part with any and iv'e ended keeping the lot. iv'e 13 rats now , 3 big dogs and Frank the hamster and i think iv'e got my work cut out.

i'll be taking some pictures asap. i know how to post now and i'll bombard you all with my beautiful ratties.