How long for males?

How long does everyone keep their male rats breeding? I have 1 good breeder that is bigger than all of the female rats he breeds too and a bit younger. Just curious how long you keep em breeding before the reserve(for me its a black hooded dumbo rex and and albino) breeders? He is still breeding but I think I should replace him within the next month or 2 for a new male.

If they are doing their job, I keep 'em going for a year or more sometimes, but all my males breed for at least 8 months with no problems.

-Evan

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Originally Posted by Evan Jamison

If they are doing their job, I keep 'em going for a year or more sometimes, but all my males breed for at least 8 months with no problems.

-Evan

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Thanks, and by then, they make great big boa food

Well my oldest breeder male, Casanova, is almost 2 years old and just fathered a lovely litter so basically if you keep them healthy, males can breed almost until they end of their lives. We don't put old Nova in with a lot of females but he does occasionally get a turn in the breeder tub. Most of our other males are less than a year old and will likely with good care, father litters for us for a very long time (and won't be boa food at any time). :)

Caesar is my only male, he'll be about a year old in August and he's still fathering litters averaging in size of 8-17 babies (depending on the age and size of the female).


He'll get to live out his natural life in luxury for me. None of my breeders will become boa food, ever. In my eyes, they've EARNED their retirement, and should never be cast off as feeders themselves.

I retire my breeder males at about 12 months...not because they cannot go longer but because I want to make sure I don't have excessive inbreeding (as I retire my breeder females at about 8-10 months) :)