Just started breeding rats to feed my collection. It started off slow but has now in the 3rd month start to take off.
What I have noticed though is I seem to have random deaths. I initially thought that being they came from the local pet stores I have to assume that they all came from one mystery breeder. Where I live there isn't much for variety in any sort of fashion. I had a little rampage of respiratory infections that I mitigated with doxycycline for 10 days and haven't heard any active coughing.
Still though, I had a another male randomly drop dead today. Nothing looked unusual with any of them.
Just curious if this phenomenon is everywhere or my husbandry needs tuned up.
Rack rack of 9 gallon cement mixing bins 3 wide 4 rows high. Males constantly with females at ratio of 1:3. Feed is mazuri mixed with ol roy for extra calorie content and easier feed as mazuri needs special ordered. I also supplement with a little deer corn and sun flower seed I mix myself from bulk.
Now I know the ol roy will raise eyebrows but I'm not raising show rats and the contents are good in the macro nutrients. The idea is to cull them as soon as the production drops anyways. The corn is sometimes said to cause tumors but it's too soon to see that and let's face it, they love it and go nuts when I drop seeds and corn through the wire. It's like a treat.
They also get stale bread and cheerios on occasion.
Water is religiously changed.
Bedding is aspen/pine shreds. Changed every 5 days on average.
Seems mostly a male death thing. No signs of trauma from being murdered by females.
My mice? About useless. The rats are much better at this. Mice are horrible parents.