Question for rat breeders

Do female rats stop producing young after a certain age?

I'm having trouble getting them pregnant and I'm beginning to think maybe it's not the male's fault. My pet store rarely gets female large rats, so I'm wondering if maybe the breeder/supplier only sends out females that are past their prime? Is this possible?

I had a breeder girl who was almost 4 before I retired her and gave her to a friend. She only had about 4 babies per litter in her last few. I consider 4 pretty old for a rat.

I know many of the 'pet' rats that are sold in shops are actually retired breeders. There's a definite possibility that you've gotten some old gals that are simply past their prime. Do you have any background on them? How reputable is the breeder/ shop?

Female will stop producing but generally breeders stop breeding them when the production falls below a certain number.

If you want to start a colony the best thing is to get young females about 4 weeks old and raise them up to size which ideally you want them to be about 200/250 grams for optimum breeding.

If you get an older bigger female chances how she might be at the end of her breeding career.

OK that's kind of what I was thinking. These girls do look like they're not young at the least. I guess I'll stop blaming my male now. :D

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Originally Posted by stickboy26

Do female rats stop producing young after a certain age?

I'm having trouble getting them pregnant and I'm beginning to think maybe it's not the male's fault. My pet store rarely gets female large rats, so I'm wondering if maybe the breeder/supplier only sends out females that are past their prime? Is this possible?

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Hey Einstein, try here!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/forum...-Breeding-Rats

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Originally Posted by grcforce327

Hey Einstein, try here!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/forum...-Breeding-Rats

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Really!?
There is no need to make rude smart:cens0r: comments to other members just because they may post a thread in the wrong category!
If it's that big of a deal a mod will move the thread.

But seeing that a mod commented on the thread I guess it's not a big deal!
So why don't you take care of yourself and not worry about other members!

The best way to insure quality is to buy direct from a breeder if you can. SOME shops have all ages but almost any shop that carries big ones is getting retired breeders. In this instance craigslist is probably your friend. You could even put a wanted ad in and see if a breeder doesn't contact you.

327, if that was meant as humor, you failed miserably. If it was just rude, you were successful. Which was it? I'd like to know how to treat any future posts you deign make here.

I breed rats and my female get replace around 6 months of breeding. my one friend who been breeding large numbers for a while said, when he only bred them for 6 months, his numbers of pups he produces every month when way up.

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Originally Posted by grcforce327

Hey Einstein, try here!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/forum...-Breeding-Rats

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You need a punch in the face, keyboard warrior.