So in MA where i live, we've been under heat advisory for the past several days. It has finally let up and we're doing ok (or at least better than before). I have a rather substantial breeder colony, and I recently learned the hard way about keeping the rat room cool enough for them to deal, and about their extra water demands during such weather.

I started with six breeder-sized males. After this heat wave, i'm down to one. I have no real idea why the males were more susceptible to heat-related illness, but after noticing a trend in the first two or three cages i looked in, i knew what i was going to find in the next few.

My losses include my oldest male, a really spiffy het albino/het dumbo, and a completely black dumbo male. I also lost a nursing mother, and she died while feeding, which suffocated three pups.

I have a fan going in there and i check the water levels twice or three times a day (as compared to once or twice).

I feel so bad for the boys (and the mommy) - RIP, guys, and thanks for all of your help (and sorry for the epic fail).