Only 2 pups?

[pariahdog]

Recently had my first litter, and they're doing great, except there were only 2 pups in the litter? I waited to see if there would be more but there weren't. When they were born, her female friend and the father of the pups was there, but I don't think they did anything to the pups. Is this normal?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

How old is your female? Is it her first litter?

Rats average 6 to 12 babies per litter if you have a good colony at their pick your females should produce 12 to 15 babies without issues, first may start off with a very small litter, female too old will do the same.

If she is a first timer give her another shot if she does not produce more and you breed for food I would recommend to cull her.

If she is old time to retire.

The key to large litters is to holdback animals from large litters. I only holdback future breeders from litters of 15 babies and up, retirement occur when the production drops below 8 babies.

[BCS]

It can happen and its not controllable. Average litter size is 4-8... that is average. It doesn't mean a rat can't have just one or two, or even 9 or 10.

There is also the possibility the mother ate the rest of the litter, especially if you were bothering them or making loud noises near them during birth. This is actually a very stressful time for rats or any other rodent.

[SwedishBalls]

4-8 babies a litter, then they are culled right away here.

Anything under 12 babies is a no-go. 3 litters of less than 12 babies and they're out.

My breeders delivers on average from 12 to 18 babies per litter, and do that from 2 months of age all the way up to about 15 months before i start to see any reduction in litter sizes.

Breed for quality in your rodents too, and you most definetly will have better production.

Healthy bloodlines with no issues and good littersizes x
Healthy bloodlines with no issues and good littersizes.

My mice average from 16 to 20ish babies, with the record being on 24 or 25.

Breed for quality

[wolfy-hound]

Selective breeding FTW.

She may have had stillborns and eaten them(or the other rats ate the stillborns).

If her next litter is not better, I'd find other breeders.