i'm starting my colony (pics:))

Thanks Joanna - I will defiantely keep an eye on that - I really did not want two males, but these two were a rescue and had to go togehter, so I took them, I will just put one in at a time when breeding. I will have 4 tanks set up when I start going. I have the two girls in a 20 Gallon aquarium today until the new cage comes tomorrow, then I am setting up a Rubbermaid bin and my friend is giving me a 40G aquarium tank with a lid, so I will have enough cages to keep everyone separate when needed. So far if I take one boy out of the cage the other sits at the door waiting for him to RETURN:) Kinda pathetic:)


Well I guess now I need to find a new female - larger this time!

Do you also have a good lab block source? If not, try looking for a Purina feed mill and they will be able to order some Mazuri Rodent blocks for you. You need a good, high quality lab block so the adults can maintain their weight while pregnant, nursing, etc.

Also, I see a bag of that pet store food mix junk. I would replace it with either my mix plus lab blocks or just lab blocks. Those mixes from the pet store(nutriphase, etc), just contain alfalfa, dried corn, and other tiny seeds that rats really don't get anythign out of. They can't digest it and the nutritional value is just zilch. My mix is very cheap to make, but is a nice complete, well-rounded diet when used in addition to the lab blocks(which have everything a rat/mouse/other rodent needs).

Glad you separated them. And no, unfortunately there isn't a test to confirm that she carries megacolon. I prefer to leave the breeding of high-white rats to the professional breeders in the rat fancy as they know what to look for and can get that out of the lines so it won't be bred any further. If you REALLY have to breed her, find a self male such as an agouti self or agouti hooded, or black self or black hooded, berkshire/irish, etc, and breed her to him. I don't know if I would even trust those Blues Brothers.

IMHO, I would just keep your fawn girl as a buddy, and get another female(so you'd have 3 females). She's be good company for those 2 as they will need it while recovering for 2 weeks or so after they wean their litters.

Oh what perfect names for them...Jake and Elwood! Perfect for the Blue Brothers LOL.

Just thought I'd mention, in case you didnt know, Becky's mix is described in a sticky thread in the top part of this section of the forum. Also, like Jo said, males attitude towards each other change completely when there are females around usually. I also have a question for you Becky. You say not to breed the girl to a high white, but then mention using hooded instead. What defines a rat as "high white" i thought it was simply just having a lot of white, but hooded's have alot of white and you list them as an option. I have searched for a list or detailed explanation of "high white" but cant find anything. Thanks.

Hi Becky - Yes I did get the lab blocks. Yes the pet food I bought from the store was a staple, I read your recipe before I even bought them and have it printed:) I have been adding a few of the ingredients mixed in and this weekend I will be making a BIG batch of your recipe:)


Is there a place online that I can purchase rats (that are breedable), I went to three pet stores today and they were either out or did not meet the requirements. Is it ok to buy them from the reptile store that I buy my feeders from?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Do you also have a good lab block source? If not, try looking for a Purina feed mill and they will be able to order some Mazuri Rodent blocks for you. You need a good, high quality lab block so the adults can maintain their weight while pregnant, nursing, etc.

Also, I see a bag of that pet store food mix junk. I would replace it with either my mix plus lab blocks or just lab blocks. Those mixes from the pet store(nutriphase, etc), just contain alfalfa, dried corn, and other tiny seeds that rats really don't get anythign out of. They can't digest it and the nutritional value is just zilch. My mix is very cheap to make, but is a nice complete, well-rounded diet when used in addition to the lab blocks(which have everything a rat/mouse/other rodent needs).

Glad you separated them. And no, unfortunately there isn't a test to confirm that she carries megacolon. I prefer to leave the breeding of high-white rats to the professional breeders in the rat fancy as they know what to look for and can get that out of the lines so it won't be bred any further. If you REALLY have to breed her, find a self male such as an agouti self or agouti hooded, or black self or black hooded, berkshire/irish, etc, and breed her to him. I don't know if I would even trust those Blues Brothers.

IMHO, I would just keep your fawn girl as a buddy, and get another female(so you'd have 3 females). She's be good company for those 2 as they will need it while recovering for 2 weeks or so after they wean their litters.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Oh what perfect names for them...Jake and Elwood! Perfect for the Blue Brothers LOL.

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Yea that would be cute, but my oldest sons name is Jake:) He named his George and my youngest son named the other Frank:)

Personally, I would just get another female the same size as your current two girls, wait 2-3 months until they are 4-6 months old, and then breed. They would be healthier since you raised them yourself and they would be more socialized and easier to care for than if you got them as adults in a pet store/feeder bin.

Buying younger females also ensures that they weren't previously a worn-out breeder, that you are now buying, and now the rat is too old to be safely bred. Know what I mean, Vern? What's 2-3 more months for the health of the rats.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Personally, I would just get another female the same size as your current two girls, wait 2-3 months until they are 4-6 months old, and then breed. They would be healthier since you raised them yourself and they would be more socialized and easier to care for than if you got them as adults in a pet store/feeder bin.

Buying younger females also ensures that they weren't previously a worn-out breeder, that you are now buying, and now the rat is too old to be safely bred. Know what I mean, Vern? What's 2-3 more months for the health of the rats.

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Yes I know what you mean:) I guess I should have been more clear - there were no FEMALES at the stores here that met the criteria for FUTURE breeding - I guess I will just wait and watch and hope they get some in. I did find out what day they all receive shipments:)

Ah! Ok, I gotcha. :) I have much better conversations in person, I promise... *giggle*

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Ah! Ok, I gotcha. :) I have much better conversations in person, I promise... *giggle*

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No worries:) The last few hours I have been doing MORE research:) I think I am going to hold out and look for a Russian Blue, I started looking for Breeders here in Colorado - not many. And ofcourse I know not to say they are breeder feeders:) I will just keep checking the pet stores on their delivery days:)

Thanks for all your help. When it comes to taking care of my animals I want to do what is best for them and I am new to rats, so thank you for all your help.

It's too bad that my little odd-eyed fawn can't be breed, she is the absolute sweetest and smartest one of them ALL!:)