African Soft Fur Rats

Well, I hope thats all that is. I would say my rats babies are ALMOST hopper sized. They should have their eyes open very soon, I am thinking in a day or two. I thought I would just give it a shot. I read a lot of info on message boards and stuff, but I never heard of a ball refusing a prey item because it was too small??? I mean, the pup was crawling around and smelled strongly of rat from sleeping in a pile o babies.....I thought it would make a nice appetizer and be one less mouth to feed for Lunch (mama rat's name). Oh well, I will wait and try again when they aren't so scrawney...

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Originally Posted by Wolfsnaps

Well, I hope thats all that is. I would say my rats babies are ALMOST hopper sized. They should have their eyes open very soon, I am thinking in a day or two. I thought I would just give it a shot. I read a lot of info on message boards and stuff, but I never heard of a ball refusing a prey item because it was too small??? I mean, the pup was crawling around and smelled strongly of rat from sleeping in a pile o babies.....I thought it would make a nice appetizer and be one less mouth to feed for Lunch (mama rat's name). Oh well, I will wait and try again when they aren't so scrawney...

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How big is your snake???

Its amazing the litter size of these african rats. I discovered 2 first time females with litters of 12 and 15 and these are very young females. :) http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...g?t=1170889433

One thing you dont want to do with these rats is use your hand to move them to look at the babies, OUCH! :P http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...g?t=1170889809

you got that right Ed! I haven't been bitten yet because thus far I've reacted quick enough. If they don't know what you doing they can turn on a time! Other times I can "pet" them and they are fine, they aren't always all teeth :)

I fed off my big breeder male last night. I am currently keeping them in a ten gallon tank (I am going to try to buy an expansion topper for it tonight). I have 12 pups that just opened their eyes and 2 breeder females. I was just very curious to see what Stryker would do and so was my fiance (whereas he usually hates everything snake related). SO I plopped the male in the snake cage. I was worried a bit because these rats can REALLY bite! In fact, the male got a good one in before I dropped him in...Guess I deserved it?:rolleyes:

Anyways, Stryker took it like a champ! Now I can only hope at least 1 in 12 pups are male...lol....Or else just hope to find more rats at a reptile show....
Anyways, I didn't like that male anyways! I don't like the mother rat either. The other female I have is a darling and although she hasn't had a litter yet, she babysits 24/7 and I have to wonder if she is lactating for those pups. I read somewhere on these rats that even without pups, other rats pups can stimulate them to make hormones that causes them to lactate.....isn't that amazing?
Anyways, I don't think I will feed her off. She is my favorite and a very good rat godmother....lol

ok, sorry for the rant everyone!
I did feel a slight twinge of guilt for feeding this rat off....but hey, thats why I got them so what the heck!?!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wolfsnaps

I fed off my big breeder male last night. I am currently keeping them in a ten gallon tank (I am going to try to buy an expansion topper for it tonight). I have 12 pups that just opened their eyes and 2 breeder females. I was just very curious to see what Stryker would do and so was my fiance (whereas he usually hates everything snake related). SO I plopped the male in the snake cage. I was worried a bit because these rats can REALLY bite! In fact, the male got a good one in before I dropped him in...Guess I deserved it?:rolleyes:

Anyways, Stryker took it like a champ! Now I can only hope at least 1 in 12 pups are male...lol....Or else just hope to find more rats at a reptile show....
Anyways, I didn't like that male anyways! I don't like the mother rat either. The other female I have is a darling and although she hasn't had a litter yet, she babysits 24/7 and I have to wonder if she is lactating for those pups. I read somewhere on these rats that even without pups, other rats pups can stimulate them to make hormones that causes them to lactate.....isn't that amazing?
Anyways, I don't think I will feed her off. She is my favorite and a very good rat godmother....lol

ok, sorry for the rant everyone!
I did feel a slight twinge of guilt for feeding this rat off....but hey, thats why I got them so what the heck!?!

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I would not have fed off that male. It is going to take your pups a pretty good amount of time to get up to size so you might go a while without any litters.

Well, I am new to all this and a little impatient about it.:P

Its ok though, I only have one snake....and a freezer full of rats. SO if it takes some more time its ok. This is just a side hobbey, breeding rats. I might someday scrap the african rats and try regular rats. I don't know....I get kind of weird like that. I am lucky, I have a good eating snake...:)

Dinner Time. :) http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...g?t=1171243464

mom at work. :) http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...g?t=1171243653