New Rats

I decided to pick up some rats, just a 1.1 for now, to go along with my 1.3 ASF colony that is very young. Hoping to get a litter sooner than later as feeders are hard to come by here. I didn't know if a concrete tub would be big enough for 1.2 or 1.3, but I assumed no and went with 1.1 for now. Plus I'd like to find a different female to add in at some point.

Either way, they are getting along smashingly, with normal dominance displays. The female is chasing and ... licking? the male's ... area. Lol. Not sure if this means she is horny or just playing.

Either way, they are sweet as can be, especially the girl.

I am not sure about color genetics in rats, but I think I have a black hooded and beige hooded but I have no idea.

Someone enlighten me a little :)

I weighed em and the female is about 125g and the male is about 265g. Should be ready to breed according to the info I have received this far.

Open to any comments/advice.

Thanks!


Pics

Male
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/...9c8b05c7_z.jpg
IMG_6914 by muffywrx, on Flickr

Female
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/...3dbc46a7_z.jpg
IMG_6920 by muffywrx, on Flickr

Together
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6134/...a6caf2e8_z.jpg
IMG_6907 by muffywrx, on Flickr


And to end things, a cute ASF pic :)
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/...d3265df0_z.jpg
IMG_6931 by muffywrx, on Flickr

Awwww, they're so cute - congratulations! What is the female eating in the second pic? Is that some kind of oats or something? :confused:

Thank you! It is millet .. heard they like it ... thought they should get a treat on day one to help stress :)

Adorable new additions! I've actually been looking into getting a 1.2 pair all day. :D I've been planning on it for a while now.

If they are the Lowe's concrete tubs you're fine with 1.4. That's how I run all the tubs in my rack! Good luck with the new colonies :)

Regards,

B

That's how I started my rat colony back in Feb. now have 2.10 breeders and growing up 6 more females :)

Wow, really? It seems so small. I will probably add one more rat female then, just for now.

I do have a question about separation during breeding though, since they are a bit different than ASF. So I hear take out the female when the female is noticably pregnant and put her in a separate birthing tub .... Move her back when her litter is weaned?? What about the other momma? Can they go into the same birthing tub safely? I know they like to steal each others babies and this can lead to bad things. Does the male do fine on his own and then having the mothers placed back in??

I've heard of people doing the "harem" thing without problems, I seperate mine, 2 females to a maternity tank. They do just fine and end up putting heir babies together, and take turns nursing.

They are fine when put back in with the male, although the only thing he seems interested in is knocking them up again lol

Ok so some keep them all together?

I would probably feel more comfortable separating the rats like you do. 2 in a birthing tank ... can they go in at separate times without a hitch?

When do you remove them, when visibly preggo?

what if she pops before you move her unexpectedly? Can you move her and the babies or is it better to remove the male at that point?

Want to make sure I do this right!

Thanks for all the info thus far!

Another question, when the female chases the male and ... fondles? him, lol, he will retaliate by pinning her down and very gently nipping her it looks like, I was observing them for a while, and she did the whole "Squeak squeak you dominate me squeak squeak" thing...

Didn't see any definite mounting though he did get behind her a couple times ...

Is this foreplay or are they just playing dominatrix?

it's ok if their litters are at different times, I've forgotten to pull females before. I just transfer her, then the babies over to new tank.

OOoo, and what kind of ratties will I produce with this pairing? Does anyone know???

That whole chasing thing is her playing hard to get ;). As far as offspring, they will either be blk/whte, tan/whte, cream/whte, blu/whte, white

blueeeee?????? O.O SWEET

You got good advice. You'll be able to tell when they are going to pop. I've been able to tell within a day when every single one of my moms is going to go. I do spent a lot of times with my rats though. I want friendly rats for safer snake food. As long as you spend time with your rats and keep them pet friendly you can move babies and mom to a new tub. If mom isn't nice, be very careful! Rats bite hard and can split you open pretty good.

The moms literally look comical. They are pear shaped with swollen teats and when they are walking look like they swallowed a tennis ball. They will also start nesting up their bedding. I would also recommend treating pregnant rats and moms to table scraps. Mine get all sorts of tasty table scraps, bread ends, stale crackers, chicken, and treats. It really helps keep her and the babies more healthy. The treats also build up some trust. After a week or two you should probably feed off any rat pups over about 8 in the litter. This will also ensure healthy mom and babies.

An added benefit to putting the moms in seperate tubs is that your babies will be healthier if she isn't pregnant while she's nursing them. If you don't give them a break you will have less healthy babies and burn the moms out very quickly. Seperation into their own tubs gives them time off before starting the process again. I believe that healthier rats equals healthier snakes so that's why I got breeding my own.

Regards,

B

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Simple Man

I would also recommend treating pregnant rats and moms to table scraps. Mine get all sorts of tasty table scraps, bread ends, stale crackers, chicken, and treats. It really helps keep her and the babies more healthy.The treats also build up some trust. After a week or two you should probably feed off any rat pups over about 8 in the litter. This will also ensure healthy mom and babies.

An added benefit to putting the moms in seperate tubs is that your babies will be healthier if she isn't pregnant while she's nursing them. If you don't give them a break you will have less healthy babies and burn the moms out very quickly. Seperation into their own tubs gives them time off before starting the process again. I believe that healthier rats equals healthier snakes so that's why I got breeding my own.

Regards,

B

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I totally am into feeding mine scraps.
Sometimes I will put the mom back in with the male for an hour or so, so she'll get pregnant again right around the time her current litter opens their eyes.