Experiment

[Kittycatpenut]

One of my rats had babies too young(I didn't realize they could have babies when they were that small, and she didn't look pregnant) and she wasn't producing enough milk or didn't know what to do. I put a couple of the babies into each of my ASF groups to see if they would take care of them. So far they seem to be doing well, and the ASFs aren't trying to kill them. One group has even accepted them as their own (whenever I move them from the nest, they put them back in it)


I know people have had ASFs successfully foster mice babies, but has anyone successfully fostered rat babies with them?

[wolfy-hound]

I'd be amazed if asf took in rat babies myself. But I'd also think that very very quickly the rat babies will drain the asf foster moms because rat babies grow so quickly and take so much more in milk due to the larger size that they will end up killing the asf foster moms.

[Skittles1101]

Awww pictures?!?! Sorry I have nothing else to add lol

[Kittycatpenut]

At least one of the babies has been fed! It has a milk band!

[KTyne]

I'd be amazed if asf took in rat babies myself. But I'd also think that very very quickly the rat babies will drain the asf foster moms because rat babies grow so quickly and take so much more in milk due to the larger size that they will end up killing the asf foster moms.

I agree with this. The ASFs might be able to take care of the Rat babies for a while but once the Rats get to a certain size the ASFs won't be able to provide enough milk for the Rats anymore. I mean, 6 week old Rat babies are bigger than an adult ASF, lol.

[Kittycatpenut]

I'm only keeping them with the asfs while they put on some weight, as they are all very small because they weren't being fed. Also, the asfs have 2 mothers alternating giving the babies milk so they shouldn't get too tired

[snakesRkewl]

We had rat moms foster asf's and mice but haven't tried the other way around, good luck

[KTyne]

Well that sounds good then. Good luck with the foster, I hope it works out. ^_^

[meowmeowkazoo]

Are from Gaia? I *swear* I know somebody with a ball python named Henrietta on there. This is Scarbi, btw. Good luck with the fostering! I think that if my ASFs had been producing milk they would have successfully fostered the rat babies, though the running out of milk thing is a bit concerning. Maybe you can supplement with bottle feeding, or maybe the mommy rat will come around.

[Kittycatpenut]

I've no idea what gaia is -.- The fostering is going well so far. They ate one of the babies(I think it was sick) but all of the others are being fed and treated just like the soft fur babies. Now to see if they survive the night...