My male rat needs a friend. Should I neuter him to get another?

It is, unfortunately, very common for male rats to begin fighting as they get closer to sexual maturity. Your rats are getting to be that age, so that may be contributing to the scuffling that you are seeing. There are a few things that you can try - one is to completely separate them from one another. This can be complicated as you will need to have three separate enclosures. Sometimes there is only one aggressor - if you know that one of the rats is the bully (usually the one that has no injuries), you can also try to separate that one and leave the other two together. Unfortunately, sometimes this can then lead to the other two fighting (so it doesn't always work). Another alternative is to get them castrated. I am not sure what the comfort level of the veterinarians in your area is with rats, but this would remove the hormone component of things. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is possible to have your rat neutered. Find a veterinarian who treats exotics/rats regularly and this should be no problem. Here is some good info: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/neutering-in-rats

You should neuter your male rat but i do not recommend spaying your female rat. the reason for not spaying your rat is the fact that the surgery is much more risky than the surgery done form mammary gland tumors.

Rats are all individuals just like humans. Some male rats may not get along with others but most of them do. Try to get a male who seems relaxed and is used to living with other rats. Introductions should be gradual. Begin by having separate cages and putting them in each others cages (without the occupant present) so they can get used to the scent. Then you can introduce them with a screen barrier in between them to prevent any injuries. Proceed slowly with any physical introductions and be prepared for any fighting. Rats may bite you by accident if you try to separate them. If Oreo seems very agitated by the presence of the other rat, it may be best to have him live by himself. Introducing rats on neutral territory can also help eliminate fighting. Never leave them alone on attended until you are sure they are best friends. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello. Unneutered male hamsters will try to mate with other males if females are not around. Also, they are more likely to fight because they are unneutered. You can try getting them neutered in order to change the behaviour. Otherwise, you may have to separate them if they start fighting. I would suggest having them seen by your vet to discuss neutering. Best of luck with your little ones!

Hi there and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually aggression in our pets can be altered a bit by removing excess testosterone with neutering. While it is not impossible he is lonely-likely he is frustrated with the removal of his mates each time. Neutering may help with his need for female attention as well as curbing unwanted aggression due to excess testosterone. I hope this helps!

Hi Pam, Rabbits are extremely territorial. Neutering helps but it does not eliminate this behavior 100%. Also, it can take up to 35 days for the testosterone levels to go down after neutering so 2 weeks is not likely enough time before trying to bond them. Bonding two males is difficult even when both are neutered. A male and a female are an easier pair to bond (if both are fixed). This article may help you: http://www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/company/introducing-rabbits-to-each-other/ Hope this helps. Best wishes.