Finally about to have weanling ratties.

[wolfy-hound]

I got my rats and a used rack a while ago and almost the next day I had a litter born. But mom was(understandably) stressed by the move and killed them. I had two litters early that moms killed off.

Since I originally got 32 (8.24)breeder rats, I scattered them among several bins, mostly with 1.3. Many are hooded, several white and then a handful of siamese and browns. I also ended up with a brown/red hooded dumbo and a blue dumbo. There's a couple red rats too. Very cool selection of colors.

I have had only two die on me. One female that may have been injured during the move, becuse she didn't look well and died fairly soon. Then yesterday I had a big old brown male die.

Otherwise, I've got some 8 litters already born that are surviving fine. I pulled a litter of 4 and a litter of 7 and fed those off to hatchlings. I'm going to hope that the moms do better in the next litter.

Most of the litters seem to be 10 babies. I have one that's 15, one that's 12. The first 10 baby litter is nearly weaning stage, eyes open, starting to run around. I'll pull any males to feed off and raise any females from bigger litters to use as future breeders.

I pulled some females out of feeder rats to raise as breeders and one set(4)chewed the corner of the rack bin! They didn't bother leaving... just chewed a doorway. Stupid. So those 4 are currently in a aquarium. I'll keep them as breeders as long as it's convienant to have a tank of rats. Obviously I can't risk them chewing up more tubs.

I pulled another 7 from feeders and just put those into the bigger new rack, concrete tubs for them. Growing them up in a 2.5 group for now. I didn't intend to have males in there, but I missexed apparently. I'll need males as breeders too, so shrug.

I'll get some cool pics of some of the ratties, then post them in this thread. I did just get a SMALL litter from a mom in with a siamese dad, but I'm not certain it's a siamese mom. Also not certain he's the dad. I have another bin that has all siamese, so hopefully I'll see some siamese babies soon.

I really wish I'd noticed the dumbo female, because I'd love some dumbo babies too. Now the blue dumbo male is with another group of females. Ahh well, I'll work something out later.

Most of these breeders I got were skittish and nervy. Within a week of me offering treats daily by hand and handling them in and out of the bins gently, and all of them tolerate handling, some actively come seeking treats or petting when I open bins now. One of those almost-weaning size babies comes to reach up at me every time I open the bin. He's a boy but then, I'll need more boys too. *shifty look* I will!

That's about it for an update on the ratties. Most everyone I talk to couldn't care less about rats. Pity, they're such cool critters.

[aldebono]

Thanks for the update! I seem to have new pinks every week and I need another rat rack already!

Keep me in mind for blues and siamese!

[Johnny84]

Ive aquired a used rack as well and picked up some ASFs...I have a small colony of regular Ol'Rats and my big female just had her first litter! She is still having them...but congrats on the colony doing well finally after getting settled in!

Also...how long do females take to have their babies? I posted a thread to ask these questions but haven't got a reply yet, but can I keep checking on her to see her progress? Or do I need to leave her be and check tomorrow?

But again...good update thanks!

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[wolfy-hound]

Way cool, maybe we can trade some bloodlines later.

I know some of the siamese feel pretty prego, I'll update!

[wolfy-hound]

As far as just giving birth? Shouldn't take more than a couple hours as far as I've experianced. I've heard it can take overnight though.