Need Some Suggestions...

ok, but wouldnt the same apply? Wouldnt it have to be contaminated somewhere? Same questions still apply.:)

Well.. most feed stores I know have a few rodents running around munching on spilled grain.

yup, aprils right!!!

It must be the difference in the management of facilities, because our local feed store doesnt have spilled grain and rodents running around. The city wouldn't allow it to be in town if it was attracting rodents. I guess there are bad ones and good ones, depends on the location.

Well we live in farm country.. where there are horse barns, there are rats and mice.. no getting around it.

Ok, so I'll get what one male and 3 female medium rats? How many aquariums will I need? Obviously one for the babies and mama. God I'm confused.

Gestation period is 19-21 days picked that up. I figure out of one litter, take half to raise up to appropriate size (small/medium rat) then take the other half and feed some rat pinks to Icelos and keep a few up a week or two more to feed to the new female. Will this be ok?

By the way Bill, thanks for showing me the thread. Those tubs looked like heavy duty plastic? Maybe I can have my boyfriend rig me up something.

There are a lot of feed stores around here so I'll start snooping around to see what I can find. I know one particular store that is really good, so I don't think I'll have a problem with mites. I've dealt with them once and REFUSE to do it again.

we live in a small town... and when i purchased bedding from them, my mice got mites! i've heard from other people on mice forums that they've encountered the same problem when they purchase bedding from feed stores. never had the problem with petstore bedding though.

hth,
aleesha

All I was trying to say is people shouldnt avoid ALL feed stores because of this. That is a pretty broad generalization. It should be judged by case by case basis.

Two tanks is fine. One for parents and babies (the male can stay with the female) and a second tank for weaned babies.

Rat gestation is closer to one month than three weeks. Mice have the 21 day gestation.

Oh okay, so I can keep all of the females in with the males? All 4 of them in a 10 gallon? And weaning...do they do it by themselves or is it a matter of me seperating them from their mamas?