I got a fat rat!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by recycling goddess

if you hold her up just under her arms

---

I don't think I can do that. :rolleyes:

I am not really a rat person but I just didn't want to hurt her. :aww:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by recycling goddess

how old do you think she is?

---

I have no idea how old she could be.

I have been watching her and she does have a pear shaped belly. especially when she stands on her hind legs.

I'll get a couple better pics up in a few.

ok...she won't cooperate for very long and then she decides she wants to hide in the bedding from the camera so here are 2 pics where you can see her belly better.

What is it that makes you think she is a young rat?

I am just curious because I have no clue how to tell.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3Image0073.jpg


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3Image0072.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jeffnme

ok...she won't cooperate for very long and then she decides she wants to hide in the bedding from the camera so here are 2 pics where you can see her belly better.

What is it that makes you think she is a young rat?

I am just curious because I have no clue how to tell.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3Image0073.jpg


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...3Image0072.jpg

---

Yea your going to have a popper too.. It'll be intresting to see if they are live and healthy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

It'll be intresting to see if they are live and healthy

---

I think it will be also.

I think I am a lil excited! :D

Her face and how it is shaped tells me how young she is. I'm guessing maybe 8 weeks, maybe 10 weeks... When they are kept in feeder bins with their brothers and fathers, you're bound to get rats pregnant at 5-6 weeks old... Yes, it happens.

Just be aware that her pelvis may not be properly formed yet and babies could get stuck, resulting in death of the mother and the babies. That's why they should be only be bred after they reach 4-6 months of age and over 250g.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Her face and how it is shaped tells me how young she is. I'm guessing maybe 8 weeks, maybe 10 weeks... When they are kept in feeder bins with their brothers and fathers, you're bound to get rats pregnant at 5-6 weeks old... Yes, it happens.

Just be aware that her pelvis may not be properly formed yet and babies could get stuck, resulting in death of the mother and the babies. That's why they should be only be bred after they reach 4-6 months of age and over 250g.

---

Won't their pelvis fuse if they aren't bred before a particular age?

I had purchased some "older" females thinking that they would make better breeders (They had never been bred, 325 gram females)...one died after passing four pups, the other looked like the female pictured, she died before giving birth....pups could not pass through her pelvis....likely due to a fused pelvis because they weren't bred close enough to sexual maturity.

I'm really not sure, I will ask my vet though. I do know that if the pelvis isn't stretched before a certain time, the ligaments become stuff, therefore the pelvis won't stretch during birthing. Hence, stuck babies.

In young females, such as in horses, their pelvis just isn't big enough to do diddly(such as birthing), so the babies become stuck and the female can get injured and possibly die(ok, not possibly, usually...).

Just remember, rats CAN get pregnant at 5 weeks of age. And any good pet store will have the males separated out at least by 4 weeks. Would you want your 10 year old to get pregnant? Just because they can, it's not the best thing for them.

She does appear to be a quite young female rat if you look from the belly bulge forward. She has the thinner, leaner build and face structure of a younger female. I've bought females from the pet store and found out one was pregnant far too young, it does happen and that one looks ready to pop at any moment. Give her lots of quiet time, good food, clean water bottle and bedding. You might want to add in some thin strips from an old telephone book, they love making those into a nest for the babies. She may do just fine. It's not good for them to deliver so young but at this point, what's done is done so best to just support her and give her the tools to hopefully raise her litter. My young preggie female, Squeekers, had 8 that first time out and raised them up just fine though they were on the small side. I gave her a long rest after that litter, let her grow up properly before she was re-bred and she's now a wonderful part of our breeding colony.

Thanks Jo!

She is in a tub and has a clean water bottle and lots of bedding, but I will add some shredded papers. She has plenty of food. and it is fairly quiet in here other than the clicking of my keyboard and the t.v.

now if and when she has them what would be a good weight for them?

Will she refuse or neglect them if I handle them?

:giggle: I just looked in on her and she is happily laid out on her back!

that is cute! :aww:

I don't know if a rat's pelivc bones will fuse if they don't give birth by a specific age, but I do know that guinea pigs do.

It is possible, but I'm just not sure. Well one thing I am sure about, she is very pregnant!!!!! Good luck with the babies!!!!!!