I have twice now experienced a phenomenon with my nursing female rats. I will have 3 females in a tub, all have their own litters that are fully furred and are just about to or just starting to open their eyes and I will check on them and find a few brand new pinkies.

The first time, a few weeks ago, I wrote it off as a fluke, maybe a female got put with a male by accident? I didn't think so but couldn't find another explanation. I had 3 females, I'm positive they each had their own litter and all the babies were all around the same age, close to 2 weeks, and then I found 5 new pinkies.

Yesterday it happened AGAIN and I am POSITIVE no one has seen a male since being impregnated and that each had their own litter (rather than just fostering someone else's.) Once again, all the babies were about 2 weeks. Checked up and there's 3 new pinkies. No one else but my bf and I do anything with them and none of our other rats even have brand new babies that could have gotten moved. It makes no dang sense.

Can female rats retain sperm and reimpregnate themselves after a litter?

This is boggling my mind.


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