Need some advice: do I have my colonies set up for success?

[Kourtneyhk]

Hi Everyone,

I just recently started getting my supplies and rats for breeding. I have a four tub rat rack, and an extra 20 gallon tank for some small extra rats I have currently. Obviously, I will be getting more bins and what not as things go.

I need advice as to whether my set up is a good way to continue; I've only had the rats for a couple weeks, and over the last few days, I have started to hear some sneezing, so that is what is bringing me here!

Each of my tubs' substrate is pelleted newspaper; I was under the impression that this bedding was better to avoid some dust and "stuff" that can irritate the rats. I have shredded newspaper in each drawer just to give them some material to nest in, and I throw some papertowel tubes and cardboard boxes in as well to give them a little something. Each tub has a large water bottle, these are filled with fresh water daily. All tubs have a small conduit box that has been rigged up to be a feeder for the rats (it actually works really well!) and all of the tubs are fed Mazuri Rodent Breeder (6f).

Tub 1: One large dumbo male, three females (couple dumbos, a Norwegian)
Tub 2: One large brown noregian male, two brown norwegian females.
Tub 3: One male, four females (smaller male and smaller females)
Tub 4: One male, four females (smaller male and smaller females)

I have the rat rack (and my mice tanks) in my detached, un-insulated shed. It's a very small shed that I just use for storage, has one window that lets in ambient light. Temperature is cool, around 60-65 degrees.

I guess my question is, is it too cold in the room? I know sometimes the temperature dips lower than that. I have had NO issues with my mice; I've witnessed breeding, had births. I have witnessed no breeding with the rats, I believe I have one pregnant female but she came to me pregnant.

I'm curious what you all think; could I not be providing enough light? Is it too cold? I'm probably going to work on insulating it tomorrow, but I'm curious if there is anything else that I should change to try to keep the rats from getting sick, or is it too late if they're already sneezing?

Thanks for ANY advice, seriously very appreciated!

Thanks,

[Rhasputin]

Since everything else sounds fine, I would think it is the temperature, because it's rather on the low side. And you mention it can dip lower than that, which is definitely too low for success.

The bedding sounds fine, but I have no experience with it, so I can't say wether that could be a problem or not. I use pine shavings and moderate temps (70-75ish?) and haven't had any respiratory problems in years in even a single animal.

[somnambulant]

If your temps are too hot or too cold, it can get in the way of breeding. You should bring up the temperature in your shed if you can, especially if it drops below 60. Plus with dips like that, you run the risk of your rizzos getting sick.

[sorraia]

65 degrees F is fine for rats, but the lower dips might be causing a problem. Can you set up a temperature station to record the highest and lowest temperatures? An inexpensive ($12 at walmart) accurite thermometer will do just that. The sudden drops and rises in temperature WILL get to rats and cause stress. Stress lowers the immune system, which can then allow symptoms (such as sneezing) to start showing.

[MrLang]

Sounds fine - can't tell you whether the newspaper pellets are dusty or not but I would think they may be. The temp dips will also lead to respiratory issues. All rats sneeze - it's a question of how frequently and how aggressively. One thing to note is that the cycle can be 30 days or so. You mentioned they have been there a few weeks. Some of my rats don't visually appear pregnant until the 4th week, so you may just not see it yet.

[wolfy-hound]

I can't say about the pellet bedding. Sometimes rats will start sneezing when they've been moved to a new place, like stress brings out the sneezing. I would check them for any signs other than just sneezing.

What I did in my rat room(which is one room in my house but it was unheated) when temps went to freezing was I put a little extra bedding in and put cardboard over the back half(2/3s?) of the tub(just sit cardboard on top of the wire). The rats stayed back under it when they got cold and it was VERY warm just with body heat. If they got too warm, they could come up to the uncovered front section where it was cooler. Even during hard freezes when water left in the room froze over, the rats were comfortable and did not show any signs of distress. Even the water bottles didn't freeze.

[artgecko]

I use some newspaper pellets (underneath a layer of shredded aspen) as bedding and haven't seen issues.

I don't think the pellets provide much insulation though... Perhaps add something they can use for insulation (paper towels, old rags, or even some aspen bedding might hold more heat).

[Kourtneyhk]

Thanks everybody!

The pelleted paper isn't dusty at all, but absorbs the liquids really well.

I got my shed half insulated yesterday, I hope to have it finished next week. I did have one female give birth today to 7 little pups, and they seem fine. I know one of my bins (that has more of the rats) they always seem hot, the others they're usually together even if it is around 65 in there.

I will definitely get a thermometer to see what it says is going on, I know our ambient temperatures the past couple days outside have been 60-65 with about 52 at night, but the shed is always about 5-10 degrees warmer.

I've considered ripping up some of my old, unwearable jeans to give them something extra to insulate with, as well. If all else fails, I'll be getting a little ceramic space heater to bump the room up a little bit.

thanks again!