Not going well...

[Rapture]

After getting my rack built, I set up two of the tubs with 1.3 rats. I had one or two good litters that made it to weaned stage, and at that time I moved them into a different tub. Since then, I haven't seemed to have many litters make it to that weaned stage. I was wondering if anyone using a rack system could share their method as far as how many females per male, if they rotate males or females, or if they separate pregnant mothers from the other adults.

Thanks for any help.

[xdeus]

I never keep my males with pregnant mothers. I always separate them before they give birth as I don't want to risk a pregnancy so soon after the female gives birth, plus I think it probably adds stress to the mother. I won't introduce the male until she's ready to breed again in about 4-6 weeks. Oh, and I also keep two or three females per bin...

[lord jackel]

By leaving the males in all the time you put a lot of stress on the females as they typically will get pregnant right after giving birth.


What ends up happening is the mothers body has to decide to use what nutrients she has to either feed the already born (by producing milk) - which usually results in small future litters - or - her body focuses on the unborn and you get normal sized litters but the babies that should be nursing don't get enough milk and die or are very very small.

I recommend you rotate one male. Leave him in a tub with the girls for a week or 2, then rotate him to the next tub (again for a week or 2), then move him again and so on. Don't put him back in the first tub till those babies are weened - and the females have had a few weeks to recoup and regain weight.

[frankykeno]

Okay how big is this tub? You've got four large adult rats in there plus their litters and females getting rebred immediately after bearing young. It's really no surprise you're not getting a lot of success. Rats do not naturally turn on their own young (even the males) but if overcrowded, fighting for food or other resources in a confined area...it's going to happen.

[TekWarren]

Okay how big is this tub? You've got four large adult rats in there plus their litters and females getting rebred immediately after bearing young. It's really no surprise you're not getting a lot of success. Rats do not naturally turn on their own young (even the males) but if overcrowded, fighting for food or other resources in a confined area...it's going to happen.

This would have been my first question also. Make sure they are kept in a decent size enclosure.