seperating pregnant female?

[tumy]

hi, should i seperate pregnant female rats? can i put together pregnant female rats in the same cage even if the other females came from different male cage? is 1:5 ratio ok? thanks in advance

[bokuza]

Putting pregnant females together normally means some pups won't make it due to accidents, fights, one mother cannibalizes all of the pups or the other mother stops feeding them leaving only female to feed two litters. I suggest each female has their own tub when nursing, the chances of the litter surviving is much higher this way. Overall I just say avoid it.

[PghBall]

I have my rats set up in 1:2 tubs and leave all three in there even when there are pups. I have only had one female cannibalize her litter and she has since been retired. All of the other mothers do just fine and I have lost very few pups.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

If you want optimal production and minimal loss due to fights over the babies I would recommend you to keep each females individually with they youngs for at least the first 10 days.

[alohareptiles]

I've done this approach from the beginning of my short breeding time (only 4 months) and I haven't had any losses...However, I tend to lose them after they wean...

[tumy]

thanks for the info guys