What's going on with my rats? Tumors? Cysts?

Hello everyone! My rat breeding is going very well. Females are producing an abundance of chubby babies (seriously, some of them are so chubby I'm like omg its never going to be able to walk!!!:O) Anyways, I have been noticing lumps on some of the males and now on a few females. They are on the side/under their neck, where I assume their lymph nodes are? They dont seem to bother the rats and I havent noticed any complications, other than the lumps themselves. This female was just fine two days ago, now she has a lump on each side of her neck. Anyone have experience with this? Are they tumors? Maybe cysts? Are they harmful? Help and advice greatly appreciated! Thank you! :gj:

[IMG]Rat.jpg[/IMG]

Sorry, here are pics

http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/a...psrucmjvdf.jpg

http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/a...psxq72lsnf.jpg

http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7yt1ulqy.jpg

I have had quite a few to have the same problem.

I breed mice though.

Either the legs or neck develop cysts or tumors.
tumors.
I have had a few develope tumours but most push through it and eventually return to normal.

As for advice ...Just love and take care of them.

I feed off sick and weak though

Thanks! I hope she gets better, she's a good breeder. I also hope this isn't a genetic thing that will hurt my colony.

Are you sure that they aren't just storing food in their cheeks? I thought that is what they do to hide food from the other rats? Don't they have cheek pouches to store food? :confusd:

I breed rats and have had a few with those types of "tumors". I wouldn't consider it genetic.

These are tumors, being in those specific places, also makes them hereditary. I would cull anyone who shows them, and breed from ones without them.

It's a shame rats are so prone to cancerous tumors. I hear so many stories of them as companion animals having to be put down because if tumors

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

What kind of rat is that with tan and red eyes.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk