Pregnant?

Well I took the original rats I had to the pet store and traded for some large rats. I have 1 male and 2 females. The new one that I just got tonight is quite fat and the pet store person said she could be pregnant. I have no clue so I took some pics to see if anyone could tell. Thanks!

http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL905.../128070394.jpg
http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL905.../128070356.jpg
http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL905.../128070173.jpg

Looks like she has been but hard to tell from the pics if she is now.

Does she look "lumpy" on the sides when she's hunched over grooming herself?

Here are pics of one of my females that is ready to pop!!

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...4/1/prego1.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...4/1/prego2.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...4/1/prego3.jpg

Thanks for the reference Bill! She doesn't really look lumpy so maybe she is just a bit on the chunky side. I'm sure Alfred will have his go at both of them within a week or so. I'll be checking everyday to see if either Frank or Regina are in heat.

I'm certainly no rat breeding expert here, having just started a few months back with our own colony but I have noticed that my yet to be bred females don't have prominent teats like that one does. I wonder like Matt if she's had a previous litter perhaps. She might also be pregnant right now. Some of my bigger females don't show till the very last few days, other than looking a bit chunky. Then they just get massive suddenly over a few days and build a nest about 1 day before or the day of delivery.

Just what I've noticed with my own breeder females.


~~Jo~~

Hmm...now I'm suspicious again. I don't want to seperate her into the empty tank because she'll be by herself but should I put some extra bedding into the tank just in case?

Your rat looks like it is a larger rat that has probably has had several litters in the past. I am pretty sure that is why her teats are like that. You will know without a doubt when she is getting ready to pop. My female in the pics, her tummy drags on the ground she is so fat. She looks like she swallowed a baseball and has a hard time cleaning herself. LOL!! My girlfriend looked at her and said "she has to be just miserable" :)

Another sign to watch for.....my females when they are just about ready to pop will lay fully on their backs (I swear they look dead...scared the crud outta me the first time LOL) or on their sides to relieve pressure on their bellies.

If she's ready to go she won't mind being alone at all. I usually pull mine a few days before they are ready so they can settle in their maternity tanks and get a break from other rats that want to play or bug them. Also to give them full private access to water and lots of good eats prior to delivery.

If you pull her and she isn't preggie you'll know soon enough and can return her to the colony.


~~Jo~~

Was the female rat housed with males where you got her? Ifso then she probably is pregnant.

Mine tend to whine and wimper alot when the male is checking them out a few days before they give birth. Thats usually when I pull them. Mine will also usually pick out a corner of the enclosure and just lie there sleeping during the last day avoiding the nest boxes and igloo.

Bryan