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Maternal Aggression, bites, and antibiotics?
So... The litter that I posted about in the rats forum, that I was so excited about? Well the mother just nailed me good and now I'm on the fence about what to do. She didn't have the best temperament.. a little shy and had nipped at me a couple times before, but today she came to the opposite end of the tub ( I was taking out trash) and bit deeply... pretty big painful wound with a lot of blood. I knew that she didn't have the best personality to begin with (which is why I bred her to my friendliest male) but now I'm unsure about what to do with her and the litter.
I KNOW that I will be culling her as soon as possible... That said, I'd like your input on the options I think I have.
1. Cull her as soon as my other female gives birth and foster some of her pups to the other female (try to continue the line with the most friendly of her pups)
2. Cull her as soon as the pups are weaned, keep pups only to grow out for feeders (not continue the line at all)
3. Cull her as soon as the pups are weaned and select the most friendly pup to try to continue the line (attempt to breed out the aggression).
This is my first litter and was supposed to be part of the foundation for my breeding program... I deliberately got rats from a breeder (feeder and pet) who said that she has bred out aggression from her lines... Which is what makes this doubly frustrating. If my other female successfully gives birth, I would be more open to culling all pups from this litter, but that will also remove her coloration from the genes I have to work with (she is beige, all the other ones I have are Russian color variants blue dove and cinnamon).
Other than your advice on what to do with her / pups, I need advice on treating the bite. I washed it, disinfected it, bandaged it and put neosporin on it. My question for you guys is should I get antibiotics and if so, what do I need to ask for? I know rats can carry rat bite fever, but don't know the most effective form of antibiotics for it.
I'd love any input you guys have or any experiences you've had with this and how you handled it. I never realized it would be this hard to find good rats to start breeding. :/
Currently keeping:
1.0 BCA 1.0 BCI
1.0 CA BCI 1.1 BCLs
0.1 BRB 1.2 KSBs
1.0 Carpet 0.5 BPs
0.2 cresteds 1.2 gargs
1.0 Leachie 0.0.1 BTS
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