calculating output

[suzuki4life]

I use a standard 6 tub rack
I run 1.4 per bin
I figure 10/ litter

SO by my calculations I quote, I can produce roughly 240 babies per month(60/week) per rack.

does this sounds like a good basis to draw conclusions from?

This is based on an established rack that is producing, not 5 rats thrown together and demanding 60 babies within 30 days.(although in theory they should produce that much or more)

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The average is 6 to 12 per litter (Can be more can be less)
The gestation is 21 to 23 days with the female being capable of being pregnant again within hours of giving birth.

So your total could be more but there are also other things you might take in consideration and that could lower your number if your breeders are house together at all time.

Communal breeding will lead to losses sometimes very little sometimes the entire litter

Back to back breeding will also take its toll on your females which could affect your production down the road.

[Wh00h0069]

I use a standard 6 tub rack
I run 1.4 per bin
I figure 10/ litter

SO by my calculations I quote, I can produce roughly 240 babies per month(60/week) per rack.

does this sounds like a good basis to draw conclusions from?

This is based on an established rack that is producing, not 5 rats thrown together and demanding 60 babies within 30 days.(although in theory they should produce that much or more)

I wish it was that simple. I often have way to many rodents or not enough.

[Freakie_frog]

Also remember that you will need to rest and replace females from time to time and they can take 3 months to grow up. Also do forget that females nursing will be out of the mix for at least 4-6 weeks..so you'll need more moms to replace them.. I was told by a wise BP Jedi.. that a good rule of thumb is 3 females for ever snake you have to feed plus hold backs, thats 1 Breeding - 1 Nursing - 1 Resting or growing up. So if you have 15 snakes you'll need at least 45 female rats at the least.

[tonkatoyman]

I use a standard 6 tub rack
I run 1.4 per bin
I figure 10/ litter

SO by my calculations I quote, I can produce roughly 240 babies per month(60/week) per rack.

does this sounds like a good basis to draw conclusions from?

This is based on an established rack that is producing, not 5 rats thrown together and demanding 60 babies within 30 days.(although in theory they should produce that much or more)

With your setup you do not have the proper space for 1.4 in every tub. You need to separate pregos and moms with babies from the breeding group. Also there needs to be a tub for weaners to grow in. Lastly you need to give mom a rest for at least 2 weeks before she gets pregnant again. A good source for how to set up is RDR's rat barn vids on Youtube. Sorry but I'm not savy enough to provide a link to his site. But watch the vids to learn. Also a good ratio is 2 to 3 rats breeding for every snake you feed.

[suzuki4life]

The average is 6 to 12 per litter (Can be more can be less)
The gestation is 21 to 23 days with the female being capable of being pregnant again within hours of giving birth.

So your total could be more but there are also other things you might take in consideration and that could lower your number if your breeders are house together at all time.

Communal breeding will lead to losses sometimes very little sometimes the entire litter

Back to back breeding will also take its toll on your females which could affect your production down the road.

I rotate my breeders to the freezer at 1yr. I currently have 25% of my racks dedicated as hold back racks so my breeders are constantly being replaced.

My understanding is that gestation is closer to 28 days. (just did a search and you are correct so that works in my favor)


Been breeding this cycle for about a year had a break because of an ant problem but before that it was 5 years. I have lost maybe a half dozen litters in that time frame.

Back to back breeding might take its toll, it is speculation. There is also speculation that the rest periods are just as hard as repeated breeding. Since a rat basically has 15 months of effective breeding life, wasting half of it on cool down periods is not logical for this application.

anyway....back on topic...

6-12...so you are saying average is 9...so not off much by saying 10.

I once housed my rats 1.3. I saw chew outs and fights. I increased to 1.4. No chew outs....fights are way less common. I increased my food hopper size and went to auto water systems. I have not seen a lost litter (from being eaten) since...

I specify about the lost litter because I have lost 2 females to what I believe was complications during birth (ie: still birth)


Considering I currently have 12 racks...2 rats isn't bad.

I figured I would ask for input because I was asked about output the other day and this was the equation I conveyed.

[suzuki4life]

With your setup you do not have the proper space for 1.4 in every tub. You need to separate pregos and moms with babies from the breeding group. Also there needs to be a tub for weaners to grow in. Lastly you need to give mom a rest for at least 2 weeks before she gets pregnant again. A good source for how to set up is RDR's rat barn vids on Youtube. Sorry but I'm not savy enough to provide a link to his site. But watch the vids to learn. Also a good ratio is 2 to 3 rats breeding for every snake you feed.

I disagree with pretty much everything you have said...so please continue doing it your way...mine has worked fine for years now.

[suzuki4life]

Also remember that you will need to rest and replace females from time to time and they can take 3 months to grow up. Also do forget that females nursing will be out of the mix for at least 4-6 weeks..so you'll need more moms to replace them.. I was told by a wise BP Jedi.. that a good rule of thumb is 3 females for ever snake you have to feed plus hold backs, thats 1 Breeding - 1 Nursing - 1 Resting or growing up. So if you have 15 snakes you'll need at least 45 female rats at the least.

my females are nursing while they are pregnant...I have experienced 2 loses in 6 years. I currently have 72 tubs of rats and plan to expand another 84 tubs.

and I seem to feed everyone else's snakes...so that equation doesn't apply to me.

[suzuki4life]

I wish it was that simple. I often have way to many rodents or not enough.

too many is not a problem.(that's what freezers are for ) Not enough is.

[Freakie_frog]

my females are nursing while they are pregnant...I have experienced 2 loses in 6 years. I currently have 72 tubs of rats and plan to expand another 84 tubs.

and I seem to feed everyone else's snakes...so that equation doesn't apply to me.

And if that works for your set up great! I was simply offer you another way to calculate your output..nothing more.