Lone male rat

Question
Hello there~

I just brought home a 5 month old berk boy yesterday, named Edgar. He's extremely gentle, and was surrendered to me by his previous owner because he was far too violent to be housed with her other rats - he bears proof of this with a healing wound on his shoulder she pointed out to me, and a few bites on his tail. With people he's the sweetest, gentlest creature I've encountered in some time, even considering the puppies I handled working at the pet store - from when he came home last night until my bedtime, Edgar stayed hidden under my hair, occasionally emerging to give me a surprise kiss on the lips, bruxing and boggling right in my ear when I so much as turned my head to talk to him.

I want the best for Edgar, more than anything. Even though he's so aggressive with other rats (hard as that is for me to believe), I do want him to have a full and happy life and to have a friend there when I can't be home or to have him with me. Neutering is so expensive but I'd do it in a heartbeat if it meant he could safely coexist with another rat.

Sorry to ramble on so, but I'm almost through...

The woman who turned him over to me was very, very knowledgable about rats and only entrusted him to me with a very heavy heart. I don't believe she would have let him go if his problem was easily remedied - she cautioned me strongly against ever housing him with others. If this is impossible, how can I keep him at his happiest with just me, or what is my best bet in finding Edgar a friend for him and I to love?

Answer
Hi


Thanks for loving sweet Edgar!  I have had a few Edgars in my life and know how you feel wanting the best for him. You can neuter him and in fact I recommend it if you really want him to have a friend or you could find him an altered male or female at a rat rescue.

I have also had aggressive rats neutered and they were wonderful and sweet after that and were right around Edgars age.  However, I only suggest a very experienced vet that is also able to keep Edgar overnight under observation. Neutering is not a walk in the park for rats nor is it routine like it is with dogs and cats so this is critical an experienced vet (I prefer exotic vets that are members of the AEMV as per my website Critter city) I am on vacation now answering questions and am on an unfamilair computer so if you want to check my website out you can find the link on my profile here.
Go to the menu and select the page about chosing vets, find the AEMV link and click to find a vet in your area if you do not already have your own vet.

Have you tried on your own to introduce Edgar to other rats?

Let me know about that especially.  Also, was Edgar properly introducd to other rats or just put in with them without getting to know them first?  This is really important to because if intros were not done properly this may explain the aggression too!