Well she is used to big litters....her first was 12...her second was 16...this litter was 18 though is now done to 16. One died (likey the runt) and one used as a prey item. She's a pretty smart female...she'll split the litter...nurse one nest then the other...then drag them all back together for a round of butt licking...then reinforce her big nest and leave them alone while she goes to eat, drink and nap across the maternity tank away from them. Unforunately that will only last as long as the lil buggers can't manage to climb the huge bedding walls she builds to keep them where she wants them. LOL

I think once they are mobile I may pull the litter once a day for a couple of hours to let her rest and get a good feed in. They certainly won't get chilled without her body heat in this weather. Experienced rat breeders --- does that sound okay? I'm thinking of trying this once they are bigger fuzzies and are able to leave the nest and follow the female all over trying to nurse. She's a superior breeder and I don't want her worn out by this larger litter.

Muirne the 06 BP would be perfect to eat some of the fuzzies, unfortunately she considers rats (live or p/k) as nasty things and will only eat f/t small mice at this point. Every other snake eats at least wean size so no hope of culling the litter size down before that stage.