Rat mom won't take care of her babies

[Lana's_mom]

So I have a really neat looking rat, has one black eye and one red eye, so I held it back as a breeder. She has had, I think this is her 3rd litter, and she never once tries to take care of the babies. I don't understand why. She has food and water at all times, the room temp is kept comfortable. I have been running into this problem quite a bit lately. Any suggestions? I would really like to keep her as a breeder and try for more of the odd eye colors, but if this is hopeless I will just feed her off on the next feeding day. Thanks.

[satomi325]

Is she alone or with other rats? How large is her enclosure?

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[Capray]

If you have another mother with a smaller litterbyou can juat give her the bad mom's babies and she'll feed them.

Why would you breed her three times if she's not raising babies? Lol



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[Lana's_mom]

She is in a rack system with 2 other females and a male, its the cement tub size rack, so she has decent room. I have kept breeding her in hopes that she would start to raise her young, lol. I really like the 2 different eye colors. And I have had other rats that would take in the babies, or plenty of hungry snakes to feed. Which is what I ended up doing with this litter. I always have hungry snakes. But I had hoped that the first 2 litters were just from her being young, I don't believe that to be the case anymore. So I guess I either need to feed her off or just feed off your pinks once they are born.

[satomi325]

I suggest putting her alone in a smaller maternity tub. I've noticed that some of the more sensitive mamas do better alone than in the group. Especially if she's a lower status female.

I've had a female or two pick up nursing their litter once in a smaller private tub where as they abandoned their litter in the communal tub.

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[Lana's_mom]

Thanks, I will try that with her next litter. I will give her one more chance and put her in a 10 gallon tank when I can see that she is pregnant. Thanks for the advice