Breeding questions

[Headsy]

is there a care sheet for rats? im looking to start breeding my own rats. how old do they need to be in order to start breeding? Is there a certian age when they stop? does it matter if they are mixed (hooded x blue x dalmation x hairless)? will they harm each other? any info is great.

[littleindiangirl]

This should help as a general outline
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=52894


You'll want to stay away from rats with white head markings, as it is considered "high white" and at high risk for megacolon.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=32419

Females should weigh between 250-300 grams before breeding, or at least 5 months of age. Males will generally be accepted by females when 6-8 weeks old. (When they are fairly big), but they can breed at 5 weeks.

Don't breed hairless for feeders, there are many threads on the subject.

Females will be fertile until they are about 15 months old, then they hit menopause. The last litters can be small and difficult for the mother.


There are literally hundreds of threads on breeding rats, in stickies and just in past threads.