I Got Too Many Dang Babies!

Okay just went to check the rat's water bottle levels in this heat we are having and found Alita in this position. Had to take a pic! LOL The crazy part is she's only nursing part of her litter of 18 here...the rest are parked off camera at her other nesting area. She's split the litter and just goes back and forth managing all of them.

Alita....Rat Super Mom! LOL (she was actually catching a nap while the leeches are nursing and only cracked an eye open at me taking pics)

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ManyBabies.jpg

Btw this litter was born July 23 so these are 6 day old pinks as of today.

So cute!! LOL I would have thought it was dead in that position!!!

Hehe, I love those, they are hilarious.

It is even funnier when one rat is DEAD asleep, and you roll it around and go, uh oh, how did this one die... and then it wakes up and runs away hehe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gmmuscle91

So cute!! LOL I would have thought it was dead in that position!!!

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Actually when it's hot a lot of the rats will sleep on their backs, likely helps them keep a bit cooler with their bellies exposed. Also really preggie females will sleep flat out on their backs. The first time I saw that I near died myself thinking my first pregnant female rat had just gone and died on me! Now I'm so used to it when I see one of my breeding females over on her back I know the litter's due soon.

That is so funny you kinda feel bad for her :P .She was probably to tired to care if you took her pic.

Well she is used to big litters....her first was 12...her second was 16...this litter was 18 though is now done to 16. One died (likey the runt) and one used as a prey item. She's a pretty smart female...she'll split the litter...nurse one nest then the other...then drag them all back together for a round of butt licking...then reinforce her big nest and leave them alone while she goes to eat, drink and nap across the maternity tank away from them. Unforunately that will only last as long as the lil buggers can't manage to climb the huge bedding walls she builds to keep them where she wants them. LOL

I think once they are mobile I may pull the litter once a day for a couple of hours to let her rest and get a good feed in. They certainly won't get chilled without her body heat in this weather. Experienced rat breeders --- does that sound okay? I'm thinking of trying this once they are bigger fuzzies and are able to leave the nest and follow the female all over trying to nurse. She's a superior breeder and I don't want her worn out by this larger litter.

Muirne the 06 BP would be perfect to eat some of the fuzzies, unfortunately she considers rats (live or p/k) as nasty things and will only eat f/t small mice at this point. Every other snake eats at least wean size so no hope of culling the litter size down before that stage.

Whoa, that is a BIG litter... that female is worth her weight in gold. :)
Mine always sleep on their backs this time of year. They are in a pretty cool room of the house but it's still warm.

Awwww....that is one tuckered out little mamma!

look at all that snake chow!

That's a great pic , what a great momma. I hope one of my girl's pump's them like that.