Oh Boy, Oh Boy - A Look at Male Rats

By Rebekah Blackwolf
Founder of the Australian Mouse and Rat Information Service.

It does not seem fortunate to be born a rat in a human plagued world.
More so, it is even less lucky to be born a male rat. Rat owners will
agree that our lovable choice of pet is often discriminated against;
however, it is the male rat who is the most misunderstood.

Many breeders are finding it harder to get homes for boy rats than
for girls. It is not uncommon for breeders to house more females than
males, leaving them with excess male rats who either become neglected
through lack of handling or become 'feeders' (sold as reptile food).

Pet shops favour selling their male rats and mice cheaper to
customers who want them as reptile food, finding female rodents can
be sold for a higher cost as they are more popular for pets.

While working in Pets Paradise - a well known pet shop chain here in
Australia - I found it was common practise for male rats and mice to
be sold for reptile food. This was due to the fact that (to quote my
former boss): "Nobody wants them as pets. They all want girls".

The Australian Mouse and Rat Information Service is always left with
more males to foster than females. Ironically enough, I have found
that males are the more gentle of both sexes.

One of the reasons for male rats being unpopular seems to stem from
their close relative the MOUSE. Basically Micky stinks, while Mini
does not. The sales pitch I have heard in pets shops for rodents
is, "The females do not have the odour that the males do". This
applies to selling rats too.

Yes, male mice do have a tangy scent. People who do not know rodents
well seem to assume the same goes with male rats too, when infact
male rats do not have as strong a scent as mice.

Siam, my siamese mouse, does have an odour typical to male mice, but
this is no problem if his home is cleaned regularly. Basquait, my old
foster boy rat, does not have an odour at all.

With mice and rats there are some simple tips to keep away
unnecessary odours. Make sure their nesting material and litter does
not become damp. Avoid feeding them meat, diary products or too much
watery green vegetables - such as lettuce. Meat should be avoided in
particular as it makes their poo stink - to be blunt. Another tip is
to avoid rice hulls as litter. Although I have not experienced this
myself, apparently if mice or rats eat this, it makes their poo very
smelly and runny.

The next reason male rats seem unpopular is the myth that they are
more aggressive than females. Rats are colony animals and one of the
few species whose males do not drive away adolescent males when they
come of age. Unlike buck deers and horse stallions, male rats allow
other males born into the colony to continue living in the family
unit for as long as they choose to.

Adult male rats introduced as strangers tend to fight, and sometimes
it is best to keep them seperate. However I have quite a few success
stories where male rats have learned to get along after a few days of
minor scuffles.

Male rats have quite a stable nature. Of the genus 'rattus
norvegicus' (of which our domestic rats come from) it is the female
who is more likely to fight and bite. In the wild it is the female
who does the fighting to protect the nest and her young. It is also
said to be the female who is more likely to kill her own species than
the male.

Instinct is still strong in rats when it comes to the ways of their
wild ancestors. Both male and female domestic rats can become
aggressive if neglected of handling and proper care by their owners.
Pet rats are quick to return to their wild-rat ways if left for too
long without human attention.

The last reason for not wanting a male rat, and one I hear about more
than the smell, is their testicles. Yes, those hairless jelly-beans,
which seem way too big for the needs of one rat, can look
rather...well..lets say....yucky! They do not hide discreetly away
when not in use, rather they are stick out like a portable two-seater
couch. Some claimed 'rat lovers' who do like rats, still cannot seem
to stomach the sight of these attributes and favour the more neat and
compact female instead.

You must understand that male rats have to fertilise a lot of eggs
inside the female, and often have to perform such tasks every month
with many, many females. Therefore, male rats need
enough 'ammunition', so hence the 'larger than most' size. After all,
rats would not be such 'prolific' breeders if it weren't for those
testicles.

If you love your male rat, then size does not matter, rather it is
personality which makes him a great pet. However, if you wish to keep
him in a mixed home of males and females and do not want babies, or
you really cannot handle the sight of his testicles, then a vet can
desex him for you. Make sure your vet is experienced with small
animals so there is less risk of complications during surgery,
particularly with the correct dosage of anesthestic.

Personally, I have never had a problem with aggression in my male
rats. I actually find them a lot more relaxed and less 'frantic' than
the females. Both males and females will make equally good pets if
handled gently, with respect for their vunerablities and compassion
towards their needs for attention and general care.

To find out more about the Australian Mouse and Rat Information
Service, please visit;
http://www.geocities.com/petsburgh/reserve/5824