Rats won't breed???

[Ball Clan]

OK I can't figure out why my rats will not breed. I've had the colony set up since early July and nothing. I have 1 male to 3 females. I have the rack system with the mixing tubs and all, but no luck. I've tried separating one female out to reduce crowding but that hasn't worked either. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. Aren't rodents supposed to be the horniest of all mammals? You'd think I was trying to breed pandas here.....

[samthemanz3n]

Ok I heard that if you put a little bit of the old bedding in the corner of the cage they will breed better.

And your post made me crack up.

[ROACH]

When I started my Rats they wouldn't breed either. It took them about 3-4 months to finally do their thing. But once they got started they don't stop!

[satomi325]

Are they mature enough? What about temps?

Heat makes the males temporarily sterile. Stress also makes them not breed. So it could be that they're still settling in.

It took my colony about 2 months to start breeding. But when they did start up, its true that they don't stop. Haha



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[Ball Clan]

Well that does sound promising lol. I just remember last time I bred rats they were pretty prolific. But it's been a while so I don't remember how long it took them to finally get started.

[xbikez]

I was JUST going to post exactly the same post I have had them for like probably 3 weeks and they jut dont seem to be mating yet. As you guys say, im gonna have to wait a little bit. Hope I can get some babies soon!

[sorraia]

Like the others said, time. Maybe maturity and temperatures too.

With my current colony, I needed to wait a month or two before they started breeding. Some rats were still maturing, others were settling in. With the warmer temperatures now they seem to be taking a little longer to get pregnant, but it's still happening (the room they are in stays in the low to mid 80's during the day, drops to mid to high 70's at night).