New mom just ate all her babies....=(

[Orijin0XazN]

My female rat just had her first litter...But she ate them all... =(

Should I start with a new female rat or give her a second chance? Please advise!

Thanks!

[Homegrownscales]

I'd cull her and start over. I Have no room for cannibalistic moms. Although.
What are you feeding them?
What's your setup like?
If I saw a mom eat her babies I'd cull her but you may have moms that have a poor food source and they'll eAt their babies if they aren't getting the correct nutrition.
If she does have a good setup and nutrition start over.
If she doesn't try again.


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[RichsBallPythons]

Ive NEVER culled first time moms. Not all get it right first time, and its huge strain on their bodies.

Ive had moms give ebig litters to just leave them in the tub never nursing them. Second litter shes there and caring for em.

Id giver her 1 more time and if it happens again then cull her. Be sure she has good quality food and water

[Simple Man]

I guess I'm blessed to have good moms but why keep a rat around to pass on terrible maternal extinct to her offspring? That rat would be food but the questions about your setup above are legitimate. If your husbandry is correct and she ate them... cull. Just my

Regards,

B

[Orijin0XazN]

thanks guys! I have another first time mom and she's an awesome mom. She ate just one of her pups but the rest of her litter is doing great! They have the same setup and have access to unlimited amount of food and water. I think I'll give the new mom another chance. I don't want to buy another expensive dumbo rat. =\

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The important thing before making the decision to cull a breeder rat is to know what exactly happened.

You need to remember that rat are scavenger and will eat their dead, the babies may have died and she might have simply clean up.

She can also have killed her babies if there were certain issues, not producing milk, the babies had problem, not having adequate food or water etc.

Yes there are sometimes bad moms and the only way to know whether she is truly a bad mom or there is something else going on is by investigating and or giving her a second chance.

[extremeballs]

If all conditions are right, i.e. food/water, clean containment, temps, etc... She would be snake food. What you paid for her doesn't even come close to what it will cost to keep feeding her and keeping her containment clean... just to have her cannibalize her young again. If you discover there was something wrong in husbandry... by all means, I would give her another go, under correct conditions. Just my opinion...