HELP! are they two boys, or two girls, or a boy AND a girl!!

[leahcar]

I don't know the first thing about being able to tell 4 week old rats apart, and we adopted two this afternoon. I am now fearing that maybe the people we adopted from didn't know either! How do i tell what I've got!!!??? I wanted two boys.

One of the rats has been much calmer than the other and now I am starting to worry that we might have one male and one female!! whatever shall I do! I wanted two male rats to keep each other company, I DO NOT want to have to seperate them, and I can not afford to neuter the male.

HELP!

[julztoni97]

If the boys are 4 weeks old, you should be able to tell if they are boys or not.  There male parts are definately noticeable.

[Anesthesia]

Do the two rats have identical genital parts?  At four weeks, you should be able to clearly tell a difference if one is male and one is female.  Level of activity is not really the best way to determine sex.  Also, do you see nipples on either/both of the ratties?

[leahcar]

well my hubby and I went in there and studied for a minuet or two and came to the conclusion that weather or not that are boys are girls, they are both the same and both apear to be identical. I think they probably are both boys. They are not quit 4 weeks old, which had been another concern of mine. The one that I call Stuart is eating very well, and the other one I call Jasper (who is a real sweet heart!) I gave a bit of formula with a droper. They have two trays of food a water bottle and a dish with water and just a teeny tiny bit of formula in it. So I am hoping and praying that they do ok.

They are both just absolutely precious!!!! and I am attached to them already. They already both come running to me I come in the room and start talking to them. Jaspter LOVES to be held and cuddled.

[RatAttack59]

At four weeks you should be fine!  I wouldn't put formula in their water, but it's ok to offer them formula with baby cereal if you think they need it.  The babies we had ate from their mother's dish as soon as they found it (+/- 3 weeks) and were pretty much weaned by 4.