Boys Vs. Girls

I get a lot of questions about boys vs. girls. For the most part, both sexes are the same. They have the same life expectancy, same physical attributes (mostly), and  can carry the same personality traits, but they do have a few key differences. If you're looking to decide between whether you want boys or girls, check out the following information:

Males:

•  Males tend to be lazier then girls, this could be a pro or a con depending on what you're looking for. They tend not to run on wheels much and prefer to lounge and sleep a lot. Although I've had a few boys who were just as active as my girls until they were very late in their lives.
• Boys usually have more coarse fur then females, but nothing that is uncomfortable to cuddle with!
• Boys are much larger then girls generally weighing around 500-700 grams, so keep that in mind when deciding on the size of the cage you want or have.
• Boy's testicals are VERY large in comparison to their body size, it is definitely quite easy to tell whether you have a boy or girl..lol.
• Male rats have something called buck grease. It's a greasy substance that can have an orange tint, they generally have this mostly on their backs. Most of the time you won't notice it, but if you notice a build up, you can give your rat a bath (just not too often!)
• When you house more then one male rat (which you should because rats need friends!!), you can tend to have more territorial issues then you would with girls. Sometimes boys have too much testosterone in their system and this can lead to them fighting with other rats, being generally unhappy, and sometimes even biting their human owners. But don't fear if you have this issue, a good portion of the time, a neuter will solve your problems.  Just remember to keep your boy separated for a few days after the neuter to allow testosterone levels to go down, and healing form the surgery.
• Boy's are also prone to testicular tumors. These are almost entirely eliminated by neutering your boys!

Females:

• Females tend to be much more active, playful and adventurous then boys. This may be a pro or con, depending on what you're looking for. They generally love to run on wheels and just run around like little spaz's. Although I have had a few girls who just loved to be held or sit on my shoulder. 
• Females have much softer fur then boys (great for cuddles and kisses!)
• female rats are smaller then boys weighing in around 300-500 grams. 
• females tend to have less territorial issues- although its no guarantee that you will have no issues. I currently have 4 girls and at least once a night (usually a lot more) there's some kind of argument going on in there!
• Girls are prone to mammary tumors, vaginal infections, and uterine problems like pyometra. Many of these problems can be prevented by spaying your female!

All in all, I think both genders make great pets! It just depends on what you're looking for in a pet. If you want more of a cuddle bug type pet, I would recommend boys. If you're looking for a pet that runs, plays, and is adventurous - I'd steer more towards girls. I've had both, and they're both enjoyable in different ways!