giving birth ?'s

[Kagez28]

well i have 2 girls that look like they are going to pop. so i have them each in 10 gal tanks, they've been there for a week now, and no babies. are they real secretive about giving birth? should i cover the tanks with some thing? they are in the back of my living room and i am walking by quite alot, is this a problem?

I NEED SOME BABIES!!!!!


grrr....

[mayabear]

I keep my feeder mice in my reptile room. They are all in 10 gallon tanks for now, but I've had now 4 litters and they all have been layed at night. I don't cover my tanks up or anything, I do give them tissue paper so they can cover the inside of the nest. I wish you luck on getting some babies and that this may help if any. There are alot more experienced breeders out there that will probably help you alot more....very sorry for any of the mis spelling...long day. Good luck.

[Kagez28]

i gave them some cotton balls and ripped up newspaper... i'll give tissue paper a try.

should i give them a hide?

[mayabear]

I use the disposable tupperware. I cut a whole on the side and make breathing hole all around. They like to make there little nest in it, it also makes it easier for me when I’m cleaning and I have to move the whole litter since they are all in the container. I buy the tupperware at the dollar store they come in packs of four.

[Kagez28]

i had plastic plant pots but they kept over turning them or climbing on top of them and banging on the top of the cage. i'll throw some old bowls in there and see if they use them.

[Flagg]

I wouldn't give them cotton, when they do give birth the strands can get wrapped around the pinkies and kill them or cut off circulation to various limbs. Same goes for that bedding fluff crap they sell at pet stores. Dangerous stuff.

I would give them some kind of hide or nesting box. If they're stressed out in the open they could be delaying birth or even re-absorb the litter.

[frankykeno]

I usually just give our female rats some thin strips from old phone books. They seem to like that for nesting. If the females are healthy, big with babies, they'll likely deliver quite soon.

[juddb]

I give my rats boxes of all sorts and the females usually tear them up during there nesting periods. Paper towels too.

[lord jackel]

Most animals don't like to be bugged while giving birth. Personally I would give her some privacy to make her more comfortable.


This can be done with a nesting box, covering the cage, moving it to a quieter place, etc. Rats don't normally eat their young from stress but you can have other complications if she feels the need to start and stop the birthing process and move everyone due to her getting spooked because someone keeps walking but.

[juddb]

Whats funny is i keep all my rats in the living room. We have a big ol flat screen tv and we watch movies every night in there, and my rats have never had a problem, as a matter of fact one of my girls threw me 20 little ones about 4 days ago. So what im trying to say is i dont think you should be worried about them being stressed out. I think you just need to be patient.