I feel irresponsible...

Three days ago I purchased a pregnant female rat so that I could start up on breeding again, and I when I got home I perched her up in the hammock and left her alone so she could settle. Well a couple of days passed and I never once saw her come down. I figure she'd been doing when I wasn't around, and just retreat upon hearing my arrival. I noticed she was acting pretty lethargic and just overall not too healthy. So about and hour or so ago, I picked her up examined her and put her on the bottom level of the cage. She instantly ran to the water bottle and started drinking furiously, and that when it dawned on me that the reason why I never saw her come down and her health was declining was because she couldn't get down. I feel so awful! She perked up immediately and is doing absolutely fine now... But my question is, could the lack of water cause the babies inside her to die?? I really hope not, but a dehydrated mother to be doesnt seem very healthy at all....... any thoughts??

Rats are pretty resiliant - worrying won't help anything any how. All you can do is wait and see but I doubt that having a lack of water for a few days would kill the babies. Don't worry, you obviously had the best intentions, and I don't think anyone would consider you irresponcible. Sounds like you caught it in time and that is what's important.

Good Luck.

I'm sure they'll be fine, it's not like a long term thing. They just absorbed more from the mother and that's why she was so thirsty. You'll be fine and don't feel bad. We all make mistakes.

That's really weird that she wouldn't get down! They can fall several stories without being injured. Mine certainly don't think twice about bailing from the top tub if I don't pay attention and that's 6 feet off the ground.

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Originally Posted by SlitherinSisters

That's really weird that she wouldn't get down! They can fall several stories without being injured. Mine certainly don't think twice about bailing from the top tub if I don't pay attention and that's 6 feet off the ground.

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Thanks everyone :) she gave birth last night and all babies seem healthy and so does she... I do have another question which I will make a new post about....
And yes! I have been keeping rats for years and none of them seemed to lack the ability to climb lol that is why I didn't think of it as an issue!

It's really weird that she wouldn't just come down on her own. I'd maybe give her some scrambled eggs or ensure to keep her energy up. And make sure she doesn't eat them ;)