Really weird baby...

[tsy72001]

Too cute, good idea for not putting it down.


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[EvergladesExotics]

IMO, he looks like a "normal" preemie would, but in time will catch up to the rest of the siblings, just like with human preemies.

It doesn't necessarily mean that there are any deformities internally going on, he may have had a FTT issue going on in the beginning, but looks to be thriving now that it is in a smaller litter.

Good point comparing him/her with a preemie. Handn't seen it like that before. What is FTT? How can I watch for it in future litters from this trio? Thanks again. It is doing very well with its new litter so currently I see no reason to cull.

[Rhasputin]

FTT is failure to thrive.

[EvergladesExotics]

Ah thanks!

[Mike Cavanaugh]

rhasputin was right on this one...

I don't care if the baby rat ends up being just fine in the end... because it ultimately isn't just fine. It probably still has some genetic problems that it could possibly pass on if you make a simple mistake sometime during its life, and it ends up breeding.

It is the responsability of any reputable rodent breeder to cull anything made that should not be. Rodents aren't snakes. They breed so very easy that the right answer is only to cull what should not be.

[purplemuffin]

What if it ends up being perfectly healthy--and is fixed or given away as a pet with only same sex roommates? Just curious. It's interesting to know where 'the line' is in regards to culling.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I was born 9 weeks premature and only weighted 4 lbs. I'm really glad my parents didn't have the mentality of some of you guys. Sure things weren't easy at first. I was hospitalized multiple times but in the end I turned out fine... Top of my class even.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

What if it ends up being perfectly healthy--and is fixed or given away as a pet with only same sex roommates? Just curious. It's interesting to know where 'the line' is in regards to culling.

It can't end up perfectly healthy. There is a reason it was born different. There is something genetically wrong with it.

With rodent breeding comes great responsiblility. They breed way to easy to not fix a big problem before it starts.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I was born 9 weeks premature and only weighted 4 lbs. I'm really glad my parents didn't have the mentality of some of you guys. Sure things weren't easy at first. I was hospitalized multiple times but in the end I turned out fine... Top of my class even.

Ever heard the term oranges to apples?

This baby was not born premature. It has genetic defects.

BTW if you want to start comparing rats to humans, I would suggest you not breed them just to feed a snake.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Ever heard the term oranges to apples?

This baby was not born premature. It has genetic defects.

BTW if you want to start comparing rats to humans, I would suggest you not breed them just to feed a snake.

The point I am trying to get across is that it might not be destined for failure.