couple of questions...

[Chunky McChunks]

so ive got a few questions and is hoping i can get some good feedback.

#1
i have the chance to pick up a cute young black hooded dumbo boy. and if i were to get him, and he gets along with my girls real well, could i get him neutered and have him live in the same cage?

#2
ive been thinking about potty training my rats so clean time is easier and less often. i havent seen very many people potty training rats while using bedding, they usually have liners. i use carefresh and i was wondering if i could setup a tray on one of my shelves and put some aspen in it and go from there. does anyone do this?

any feedback is greatly appreciated.

[Scubbs]

Well, there's no safe way to see if a boy gets along well with your girls, unless your girls are already spayed or he is neutered beforehand (and then you wait 3 weeks after surgery still).  Neutered boys and girls are a great mix - just make sure that they're no where near each other, in secure cages, and don't have playtimes together before he is neutered.  Also remember to quarantine for 3-4 weeks in a separate home without rodents (you could get him neutered during that time) before bringing him into your home.

Rats can't differentiate between two different beddings - ie poop/pee in the Carefresh and not the aspen.  Because of such, people use fabric/fleece liners with bedding only in the litter boxes.  Even then, most rats do not become fully litter box trained.

[silver]

I have heard of people checking to see if their bucks and doe's get on by having one persons hand cupped around the does back end the entire time so it's impossible for the buck to y'know. Although I have two spayed girls, one who I take to shows and she's met all kinds of bucks and there has never been a time where they haven't gotten along.

[GStar]

It would be unlikely that a buck and doe won't get on and if the buck is neutered and the does are intact you will have 'frisky' rats a few times a week when the does come into season. 

[Chunky McChunks]

yeah, but this guy is too young to for that i think. thats why i was saying to get in neutered after. but it is safe after all that is done?

[Scubbs]

Do not allow him with your girls, regardless of age.  If he's old enough to be weaned and away from his mother, he can probably mate.  Males and females, when intact, should never be around each other. 

It is safe after he is neutered and you wait 3 weeks after surgery.  That is when they can meet, not anytime before.

[Grace Jr]

You're best bet is to have him neutered during quarantine.  They need to stay separated for 3 weeks after being neutered, in case there are any "leftovers", so doing the neuter when he goes into quarantine works perfectly.  Males can breed anywhere from 5 weeks old, which is when babies generally leave their mothers and go to new homes, so letting him with them unaltered would be a bad idea.