Male Rats & Their Offspring

[frankykeno]

Ran short on one rat tub today and can't get out to WalMart for a couple of days. I had to re-arrange the rat tubs today and I had to put Casanova, our stud rat, with a few of his male offspring that have been recently weaned.

As far as I know male rats are usually okay with their young correct? Nova is a nice male rat and has never shown any aggressiveness with another rat but I thought I'd check to be sure this is safe for the male weans. So far Nova seems to be okay with them and since he has no female available to breed right now it might even be a bit of company for him (he's such a good breeder male that all his lady friends are either nursing litters or preggie by him).

I did supply the weans with tubes and so forth that they can dash into and Nova can't fit into just in case daddy gets a mood on LOL.

~~Jo~~

[4theSNAKElady]

Rats are highly social animals, and males are no exception. They might have an occasional "tussle", but other than that should get along fine - I have a large male (Scabbers) with his son (Serius), and Have had no probs, as well as none with rats I have had in the past.

[frankykeno]

Thanks, I didn't think it would be a major issue but I hate to lose a wean (my breeder male Casanova is a BIG rat LOL). I've been keeping a close eye on big daddy and his boys on and off all day and so far so good. Like I said in my other post too, if Nova did take it in his head to get a bit bossy there's 4 different things the small weans can make a dash for that Nova can't easily get into in that big tub (50 qt).

Just checked and actually it's kind of cute as the small boy rats seem to be using big poppa as a piece of climbing equipment/handy furry trampoline LOL. Bet Nova will be ready to get back to his usual "job" with the females once one is available again. I swear he had a very male "somebody deal with these kids!!!" look just now.


~~Jo~~

[JLC]

Just checked and actually it's kind of cute as the small boy rats seem to be using big poppa as a piece of climbing equipment/handy furry trampoline LOL. Bet Nova will be ready to get back to his usual "job" with the females once one is available again. I swear he had a very male "somebody deal with these kids!!!" look just now.

~~Jo~~

LOL!!! Sounds like a lot of fun!

[frankykeno]

You know I just did a fast calculation. We've only been breeding rats a few short months really. I added up all the litters that this male Nova has fathered...so far not counting the litter that is just ready to be born he's fathered 77 rats (78 actually but 1 died at birth when it was trapped in it's birth sac).

Now locally I pay $4.99 per rat live...so 77 x 5.00 = $385.00!!!! That rat has saved me dang near 400 bucks in feeding costs already (well minus husbandry costs but still...wow!)

My gawd I love that male rat LOL! Casanova is so getting a big old steak bone and a pat on this big furry head from me. Of course my husband says Nova has the life...eat, laze about all day, "entertain" the ladies...when they get preggie....bingo...they go away and magically another female shows up!


~~Jo~~