a few questions

[Reptilian]

Hey all-

A few questions...

1. What is the name of the mazuri lab block you guys use for your breeding colonies?

2. I misplaced the link to the site with the list of accpetable and unacceptable foods. It was a site that has the list in a table. Can someone give me the URL to that site or to a site that has a list of 'yummies' and 'yuckies'.

3. Finally, I currently have a 1.2 trio and will be retiring my 2 females. So I plan on getting 4 new stock females. My question is, I'll be using the setup that Joanna uses and need to know how to start? Do I put all 4 females in with my male at once to begin or what?

[littleindiangirl]

Hey all-

A few questions...

1. What is the name of the mazuri lab block you guys use for your breeding colonies?

I use Mazuri 6F, 9F is higher in calcium I believe. It will work fine.

2. I misplaced the link to the site with the list of accpetable and unacceptable foods. It was a site that has the list in a table. Can someone give me the URL to that site or to a site that has a list of 'yummies' and 'yuckies'.

Rat guide should have an article on that somewhere. Generally stay away from high content fat foods. Peanuts should be sparingly treated, and no citrus!

3. Finally, I currently have a 1.2 trio and will be retiring my 2 females. So I plan on getting 4 new stock females. My question is, I'll be using the setup that Joanna uses and need to know how to start? Do I put all 4 females in with my male at once to begin or what?

Do you want 4 litters at once? It depends on what rotation you want. Can you handle 4 seperate bins for 4 different litters? I know there is an excellent sticky in this section on breeding rotations and costs. LordJackel posted it, check it out!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

1. What is the name of the mazuri lab block you guys use for your breeding colonies?

I use this http://www.mazuri.com/PDF/5M30.pdf Mazuri 6F 5M30

[Reptilian]

I use Mazuri 6F, 9F is higher in calcium I believe. It will work fine.

Rat guide should have an article on that somewhere. Generally stay away from high content fat foods. Peanuts should be sparingly treated, and no citrus!

Do you want 4 litters at once? It depends on what rotation you want. Can you handle 4 seperate bins for 4 different litters? I know there is an excellent sticky in this section on breeding rotations and costs. LordJackel posted it, check it out!

Thanks much. I wasn't thinking straight when i posted the question on how to begin wiht the litters, lol. No I don't want 4 at once. Just a duh moment.

[frankykeno]

Layna the link I think you're looking for as far as the food question is this one.....

http://www.ratnutrition.com/suppleme...forbiddenfoods

I like to buddy breed my female rats so I always put at least 2 in with 1 male. That way I have those females cycling together, delivering pretty close to each other, resting together. I make sure they get along (some females can really pick on others). That way if one female has a huge litter I can foster some to the other female or in the rare instance a female rat rejects or can't nurse her young, the other female can do the job.

I also find the males are less aggressive breeders if they have more than one female in with them. If they have only one female to mate some males can get very ummmm "bothersome" with her and a fight can break out.

[Reptilian]

That's the exact link I was looking for. Thanks!