Need advise.

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

Be careful.....temperament issues like that can be hereditary

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They can most certainly Cary over this trait, but handling the babies can help if you are going to keep them for breeders. For the feeders I wouldn't bother. Now would be a good time to replace that female in the harem as she will be out of commission for at least a month anyway. I your female is aggressive toward you then she might be stressed out or become aggressive toward the babies if you move her. I suggest cleaning half the cage at a time in order not to bother her or the babies. I do this with my nursing mice when I find that a female is too aggressive to move. The cage won't be completely clean but its far better than not cleaning it at all.

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Originally Posted by blaz

Need some advise. This is my first attempt breeding rats. Got pups earlier today (sooner than expected) and the cage needs cleaned real bad. How soon is too soon to move mama and the babies to clean?

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I read while researching rat info that you should leave the mother in with the babies for at least a day so they can bond, and the mom won't freak out as much. I clean my rat cages every 3-5 days depending on how messy it is. I'd still try to spot-clean the cage/tank as best I could while the mother rat was in with the babies since I don't like handling newborn rats/babies too much in case it upsets the mom enough to abandon them (it could happen).

Congrats on the babies. :P