should i get my rats neutered?

Question
QUESTION: I have four brother rats who are about 8 months old now. For the last few months they have been fighting quite a bit, mostly because of my one rat, Drake, who is just such a trouble maker! The other three are ok with eachother but Drake is just so violent. He is always starting fights and terrifying his brothers. He doesn't give really deep bites, but he does bite hard enough to draw small bits of blood. I'm starting to get really tired of him terrorizing his brothers, and i don't like how his brothers are all really jumpy now if anything touches them. The fighting is starting to get worse, and Drake is starting to bite a little deeper.
I've been trying to wait it out and hoping that it's just rat puberty and it would pass. But its not going away and its starting to look like neutering may be my only option. But i'm not sure if i should neuter all four or just Drake. How expensive is neutering? And how risky? I love my boys and i would feel so guilty if the operation went wrong. I'm just not sure what to do anymore.

ANSWER: You hit the nail on the head by suggesting it was puberty.  Usually this is the time some males that may be a bit head strong start to show who is boss, or at least who wants to be boss, that is.  Anywhere from 7 to 9 months is usualy the age testosterone levels are unstable for our intact males.  He may outgrow it, he may end up hurting one of his brothers.   I would consider neutering him.  The others dont need to be neutered.  However this should be done ONLY by a qualified vet that has alot of experience with neutering rats.  There are always risks invloved with anesthesia, but with a good vet, he or she will use one of the safests anesthesia available which would or SHOULD  be isoflurane, with many of them using sevoflurane too.  I cant really give you an accurate price  but it should not cost more than $200. Most vets charge somewhere in the window of $125 to $175.  I prefer the rat be kept over night too but thats not always the case Please look over my website, Critter City, and check the page on safe surgery etc...

http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/surgerysafteyrisks.htm


Also, if you need names of a good vet, let me know.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for the help. I asked my local vet and the surgery would cost around $300 even with my brother's employee discount. I think i'm just going to keep an eye on them and if it gets worse i'll just separate Drake. I just don't have the money to pay for that, i'm only 16 and my parents don't want to pay.

But i have another question now. I keep my girls and boys in separate cages, but i take turns letting them run around. Now when the girls are running around they can climb on and around the boys cage, and vice versa. For a week or so now i've noticed one of my girls is a little fatter and is building very large nests. She's acting just like a pregnant rat. Is it possible for rats to breed through the bars? Cuz i can't think of any other reason why she would be acting like that. I'm worried cuz i'm already struggling taking care of the rats i have. I don't think i can handle another litter.

Answer
Well.....I hate to say this, and although I have never had this happen with my rats, I have had many people claim they witnessed a male and female mate through the bars.

Check her nipples, see if they are protruding.  Also, she will take on a pear shaped abdomen a few days before she gives birth.

Please let me know if she looks it. I can try to help you find homes for them if she does have babies.  How old is she?