Pregnant rat question

I have a mama rat who dropped 11 3 weeks ago. Since before she dropped she has been in the maternity ward, by herself.

I pulled her out today to weigh the babies, and noticed she looks distinctly pregnant again. She hasn't been with, or anywhere near a male since about a week before she had the 11. Can rats hold over sperm? (I wasnt' thinking so, some fish can, but never heard of mammals that can) If not anybody have any ideas how she could have ended up pregnant or what else could be going on? She's a black berk, so I wouldn't suspect megacolon.

Presuming she actually IS pregnant somehow, should I go ahead and wean her litter? They are eating and drinking good, but still under normal weight that I would wean.

They can retain the sperm for a week I have been told, but you said she hasn't been with a male since a week before dropping the first litter. They can't get pregnant while already pregnant ofcourse, so I don't think they would be able to retain sperm while pregnant then fertilize the eggs after dropping the litter??? Can they??

I've personally never heard of sperm retention in rats and never seen it with all the rats I've bred here. Not saying it's impossible I guess, just I've never seen it.

Her litter isn't old enough that one of her own sons likely would have mated her so that's not it. She's been housed alone since prior to delivery. All I can figure is she's either just keeping her body weight up really well and you're feeding her quite well or possibly, she's got a big mammary tumor going on. Is it over all chubbiness or a sort of swelling on a area of her belly. I have seen and lost females to huge mammary tumors that were triggered by the hormones of their breeding cycles and by nursing their young.

I'd pull her out and have a thorough feel of her belly.

If she's okay and of good weight, then her litter is fine to finish up their time with her. At this stage they should be eating and drinking independently but will still take advantage of the extra benefit of nursing from her as well.

I did have a feel of her belly, and its a lot harder than my other pregnant does tend to be, so I wonder if it isn't a tumor or some such.
I like to think that my rats, especially the mamas are well taken care of, but she's by far the biggest of all my mamas who have dropped. Once I find the batteries for my camera I'll prob take a pic here.

Could be milk reserves and fat... I know some of my girls make me think they are pregnant (bulging sides) but a week after wean, they are slimming back down. Especially my albino girl, she always looks like she's carrying another litter.

hope this helps!

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...6/PICT0288.jpg

this pic is better i think.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...6/PICT0287.jpg

It looks pretty normal to me. But if she started to get bigger, she may have something going on.

Got Milk?....she Does.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

I've personally never heard of sperm retention in rats and never seen it with all the rats I've bred here. Not saying it's impossible I guess, just I've never seen it.

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Shaun's talking about how if a female has her litter and the male immediately impregnates her, she "holds" the sperm for one week and then will drop the second litter four weeks after the first litter was born. That's what was explained to me when Scarlett had back to back litters when she had one litter while still in with Caesar.