Having A Lot of Trouble Please Help..

[Python Lair]

I am just starting my rat breeding systems and every time it seems like things are getting good they go downhill. Today I had checked a tub with a 1.3 male to female and the male was dead with basically all his internal organs gone, and also three dead babies. (babies about crawler size).. It seems like I have been having terrible luck with breeding rats... Mice i have no problem but I have been getting more cannibals in rats than mice. I use the lab block 4018, aspen bedding and water.. Any suggestions? What do you do when this happens? None of the moms are too old or too young, I just keep having these terrible situations where when something goes bad; it never gets better... To top it off my Pied Male died last Thursday.. Not a great week, help me out and tell me your set up and what you do with pregnant females either separate or keep them with the male? Please help..

[llovelace]

Did they have enough water/food?

[snakesRkewl]

Sorry for your bad week

Bad genetics could be at play?
When did you last see your male alive and did he act strange then?
What do you keep them the rats in?
Did they have full access to food at all times?
Water at all times?

Being a smaller ball python breeder(under 20 breeding females) we separate our females when they get close to dropping their litters.
We have 20qt tubs in racks for the moms to deliver and take care of their baby's in and it works excellent for us.
Females that eat other rats are called food, as are their babies.
If you can't afford to lose the female yet cull her after holding back some females and start over.

I've had no issues with babies held back from a female that had previously cannibalized, I'd heard it could be hereditary but that wasn't my experience.O

This is one of our momma racks, we have another 6 tub rack just like it

[JohnNJ]

What size is the tub? Post a photo of your setup.

[Python Lair]

Did they have enough water/food?

Yes all the time, i even sneak some in just so they have free floating food.

[Python Lair]

Sorry for your bad week

Bad genetics could be at play?
When did you last see your male alive and did he act strange then?
What do you keep them the rats in?
Did they have full access to food at all times?
Water at all times?

Being a smaller ball python breeder(under 20 breeding females) we separate our females when they get close to dropping their litters.
We have 20qt tubs in racks for the moms to deliver and take care of their baby's in and it works excellent for us.
Females that eat other rats are called food, as are their babies.
If you can't afford to lose the female yet cull her after holding back some females and start over.

I've had no issues with babies held back from a female that had previously cannibalized, I'd heard it could be hereditary but that wasn't my experience.O

This is one of our momma racks, we have another 6 tub rack just like it

this is my set up, the deeper ones are the breeders, the gray one is either a holding or a mom rack i guess

[Ladybugzcrunch]

You have bad genes. Kill them all and start over. Your set up looks good. Keep the bedding nice and clean, make sure they always have food and water. Pick up a few trios of weanlings and let them grow up together. Keep the males in with the females. Moving them only adds stress. In the wild rats raise their litters in the colony. Males should show affection for the babies as the females do. Do not bother them for a couple days after they drop a litter. Avoid high noise or traffic areas. I do all of this and get 25-35 babies each month per tub.

[Rhasputin]

What are you feeding? Where did you get your rats?

[BrianD]

What are you feeding? Where did you get your rats?

Yes thats what I'm wondering. Either lack of space or low protein in thier diets is really the only obivous cause to the situation.

[Python Lair]

What are you feeding? Where did you get your rats?

Yes thats what I'm wondering. Either lack of space or low protein in thier diets is really the only obivous cause to the situation.

Native Earth 4018 rodent diet 18% protein, and i got my rats all as mediums and raised them up from another rat/food breeder in my area.