I have this rat Pepper, sorry no pics, and she is the SWEETEST rat in the world and the BEST mom ever.

She was a hold out from one of my retiring females Adelle who was also a wicked breeder. Pepper is great. Super attentive mom, large litter sizes, but the problem is that she is MEGA mom through and through.

She commandeers every litter in the tub and will hoarde 2-3 litters at a time of babes of various ages. And she does this even when she is between litters and not producing milk.

I had a litter last month that just were not growing and I could not figure out why. I just tend to let the rats do their thing and they are good at it. But have had to move Pepper out of the main tub as she was hoarding these babes, and by the time I noticed it the birth mom didn't have milk and would not take them back, and at the time Pepper was not producing milk.

I fed them off early but it really sucked. They were skinny and just not thriving. My production isn't high right now so I had no moms to foster them to.

I keep my females in groups of 3 with a male that rotates. But poor Pepper has been moved as their are pups in the tubs and the other females are ready to drop soon. I cannot risk her "loving another litter to death".



Not even sure I am looking for advice, I just really feel for this sweet and socialable girl. She hates being by herself...

Bruce