Rat Mom Not Cleaning Babies

They are rat pups with hair and they are completely dirty, her tub was cleaned on Friday and the bedding is clean. Should i try to clean them or should I let them be dirty until she will? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

Never seen dirty pups before, is she nursing them?

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Originally Posted by llovelace

Never seen dirty pups before, is she nursing them?

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yes, she's nursing and very protective of them but not cleaning them.

These are pics of the mom and her litter

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...1/SDC17115.jpg

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...1/SDC17120.jpg

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...1/SDC17128.jpg

Poor babies, is she a first time mom? Is she cleaning their bottoms?

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Originally Posted by llovelace

Poor babies, is she a first time mom? Is she cleaning their bottoms?

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yes and only some :( i feel bad but i don't want to really disturb her. it sucks too cause she's a dumbo

It looks like either she or they or all of them have some loose stool action happening. It may be that your food is the root cause of your problem. Or something you're giving them as a treat.

You can take them out and place them back in, moms will not reject them. Doing your best to clean and dry them might not be a bad idea

Do you have another mom you can foster them too? Would be beneficial for them. If she is not cleaning them and licking their bottoms, they will start to have digestion issues. Not be able to pass waste...

To me it looks more so, urine stain from dirty cage.


Looks like your using aspen, if so its always causes yellow/brown stains on the rats backs and rears. Why i moved to pine.

Try cleaning more often and the stains will slowly disappear.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

To me it looks more so, urine stain from dirty cage.


Looks like your using aspen, if so its always causes yellow/brown stains on the rats backs and rears. Why i moved to pine.

Try cleaning more often and the stains will slowly disappear.

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i clean twice a week lol if i cleaned anymore i'd be in debt. I'll probably try fostering them out, the food shouldn't be the problem since i get the 18% 4018 from pet pharmacy

I used aspen and pine shavings and it is nowhere as good as pine pellets for horses. I get a 40lb bag from tractor supply for $6 and it will do about 6-10 cages each week, and most of them are 20 gal long and 48" long.

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Originally Posted by rperry03

I used aspen and pine shavings and it is nowhere as good as pine pellets for horses. I get a 40lb bag from tractor supply for $6 and it will do about 6-10 cages each week, and most of them are 20 gal long and 48" long.

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WOW, you must be overusing it. One bag lasts me 2-3 weeks for 500 Rodents.

Supposed to use just enough to cover bottom, not to make it deep

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

WOW, you must be overusing it. One bag lasts me 2-3 weeks for 500 Rodents.

Supposed to use just enough to cover bottom, not to make it deep

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It could last longer, you can see the bottom through the pellets; I was being conservative with my statement. I also like to add a LITTLE bit of carefresh in the corners. They make beds out of it and seems to keep odor down even more.