What size rat is okay to breed?

[nbelval]

If you don't know the age of the rats is there a size/weight that you go by for when it's okay to breed your females for the first time?

I have a few that I don't know the age on, but I would say they are mediums... Didn't know if that was a good starting point or not. I've heard 4 months of age, and I'm assuming they must be close to that.

This is my first try at rat breeding, so want to make sure I don't put them with the male too soon. Thanks!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I like for the females to be about 250 grams, doesn't mean they cannot breed if smaller but the outcome will not be as good.

[Jay_Bunny]

I don't breed a female unless she is at least 250g. My current breeders are around 280g.

[het.pied]

when i picked up all my females they were all around 300 grams. i figured i would have some with alittle more weight on them. but es 250 is the aokay mark

[tomfromtheshade]

I say 16 weeks regardless of size. You will want to breed bigger rats in order to improve your breeding stock, but 16 weeks is the rule I follow.

[Jay_Bunny]

I also wait until a rat is 16 weeks old to breed. Males can breed sooner though. I usually wait until they are 12 weeks old. Of course when I began breeding the two females I have now. the male was about 250g. Now he is 400g and I think he's still growing.

[nbelval]

Thanks everyone. I DO realize 4 months is the "rule", but when you don't know the date of birth a weight is helpful, thanks so much!

[suzuki4life]

God chooses when they breed in nature and he does also in my rodent building.

I have gotten some of my biggest litters from my smallest mothers.

Once again, the answer on who is right depends if you are breeding feeders or pets.

[Jay_Bunny]

Not necessarily. I breed rats for feeders, not pets, but I want to provide them with the best possible care and letting a mother wait until she has enough good size on her is important in my opinion. (just my opinion, nothing else)

We tend to frown upon someone wanting to breed their 800g female ball python. We warn against egg binding, small clutch size, etc. But as soon as someone has a lowly feeder/breeder rat, its ok to put her through the stress of pregnancy and raising a litter when she's small. Not saying others are wrong in breeding their rodents smaller/younger, I'm just wondering why it is okay to do so "just because they can".

I will wait until my girls hit 16weeks old. At that age I can make sure they have a good weight, and are overall healthy.

A note on breeding small females. I had one female. She was several months old. I had waited a long time to start breeding her because she just seemed so small. I wanted to get some more size on her. When I realized this was as big as she was going to get (probably around 180-200g or so), I went ahead and threw a male in with her. She got pregnant, had the litter, and died a day or two later from the stress.

[suzuki4life]

2.3.7 Rats (not all are breeding)

You have 12 rats according to your profile....is this true?

I produced over 1200 rats last week. Ask Tom if he thinks my rats are healthy. He has a few of my babies.