Should I just give up?

I started breeding my rats in February. For a while everything was going fine except for a few females that didn't have that much luck with their litters. At this point though, the only thing breeding regularly and with any sort of success is my mice.

I have them on a dog food from Southern States and they are fed baby foods, fresh foods, and rodent lab block when I can get it. They are housed on wood pellet bedding and wood shavings (not sure what kind but it was marketed for small pets). I do not overcrowd and cages are cleaned on a regular basis and they always have access to clean food and water. The room fluctuates between high 70s and mid 80s, mostly being around 85.

Every single litter in the past 3 months has been a disaster. Eaten, dying, killed and left to rot, etc. Almost none survive. I was able to hold back 5 from one litter as future breeders (the litter was 14, only 5 survived) and Yoshi's litters have all died except for 3 babies that did survive to weaning. Yoshi was pulled from breeding but was pregnant. She just had her litter today and all the babies were left with their sacs still on their faces, their cords either not chewed off or chewed half-a**. I was able to clean up two and put them in with another female, but even her litter isn't looking good.

Its like these females just don't care. They stop feeding them and the babies starve, one by one. I was thinking of selling them as feeders and using the money to buy brand new adult females. Of course, I'm still going to try and breed the bad female's offspring just to see if they are any better (I doubt it) but I am just so frustrated.

Something is not right for them to act that way. First litters can sometimes go bad due to inexperienced mothers. Mothers will get rid of the young if they know that they will not thrive or if it will cause hardship for the mother. Some will just be not good mothers.
To me though it sounds like something is def not right. Something is wrong with their living arrangements, be it food, water or population.


How do you have them housed?
a. What type of home
b.What size home
c.How many living together
d.How many of what sex living together
How are they feed?
How are they watered?

If your husbandry and setup are good (offering maximum security) than the problems is with your rats, in this case you need to find some quality rats to help you build a colony.

A good colony takes time to build when you first get started, you need healthy stocks to start with and be very selective when holding back animals.

If you breed for food stay away from blue, blazed, mask as much as possible.

Also the food, Could be too low quality not giving the rats enough nutrients to want to breed and or nurse babies. There for once given birth are in complete stress end up eating the babies to recover nutrients.

Try switching to a rodent lab block for a few months as see how things change.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

If you breed for food stay away from blue, blazed, mask as much as possible.

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Realy? Why whats wrong with them? We have always had them among our stock.

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Originally Posted by TessadasExotics

Realy? Why whats wrong with them? We have always had them among our stock.

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Sometimes they do not breed well or at all.

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Originally Posted by TessadasExotics

Realy? Why whats wrong with them? We have always had them among our stock.

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I think it's because the snakes will become attracted to that particular color/scheme and may stop feeding on the albino's we normally use for feedings? Please correct me if I am wrong.

You need to switch your diet to a rodent diet like Mazuri or LabDiet, they have worked very well for me in the past and seem to aid in building a healthy colony.

From my readings in the past

Switch to a quality food like the Mazuri, and not the dog food

Try and get the temps down a bit as well, Ive seen 70-80 recommended

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

From my readings in the past

Switch to a quality food like the Mazuri, and not the dog food

Try and get the temps down a bit as well, Ive seen 70-80 recommended

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Yes temps play alot as well. My mice/rats are kept at 78-81 and do very well.