Took the plunge

[Freakie_frog]

I bought a big young male breeder and 4 female breeder rats. I purchased one that was already about 2 weeks away from giving birth so in a week or so I should have pups .

I have never breed rat before so this will be a first. But it should save me some money in the long run..

Real quick how I am housing my male with the females and separated the soon to be mother. How do I tell when the others become pregnant sooner so to give them a good restful birthing tub???

[Evan Jamison]

How do I tell when the others become pregnant sooner so to give them a good restful birthing tub???

They start get to moody, their ankles well swell up, and they ask you to get them Cricket ice cream topped with grains in the middle of the night .

But really, it becomes pretty obvious about a week before they drop. Have fun, breeding rats is blast!

-Evan

[lord jackel]

I bought a big young male breeder and 4 female breeder rats. I purchased one that was already about 2 weeks away from giving birth so in a week or so I should have pups .

I have never breed rat before so this will be a first. But it should save me some money in the long run..

Real quick how I am housing my male with the females and separated the soon to be mother. How do I tell when the others become pregnant sooner so to give them a good restful birthing tub???

Simple way...If all are of breeding size...put them all together and wait a week. After a week you can seperate the male out as more than likely the girls will be pregnant. Then after about 2-3 weeks you will be able to tell the girls that are for sure as they will get as big as a house.

However, a better idea would be to seperate the girls (maybe 1-2 in each cage)...then rotate the male the benefit would be that the babies would be spaced out.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

I actually keep the male with them until I realize all are preggo for sure.

[monk90222]

Rat breeding could get addictive...Its a lot of fun and WILL save you tons of money...Make sure you only produce enough (space em out) to feed your snakes...they can get ahead of you fast..(trust me and if you don't...ask Jamie!!) Prego females look like they ate a softball....after you do this a while you will be able to tell pretty early in the pregnancy that the female is good to go....Good Luck!!

[jglass38]

Rat breeding could get addictive...Its a lot of fun and WILL save you tons of money...Make sure you only produce enough (space em out) to feed your snakes...they can get ahead of you fast..(trust me and if you don't...ask Jamie!!) Prego females look like they ate a softball....after you do this a while you will be able to tell pretty early in the pregnancy that the female is good to go....Good Luck!!

Agreed on all points...I love breeding rats. But its easy to get overrun if you don't plan.

[Freakie_frog]

Thanks guys. As far as getting over run I plan to breed my BP's next year I got 5 females of breeder size now so what I plan to do is get enough cycled to keep my current guys in sm rats and then I bought a Food Saver just for rats so I can make my own F/T pinkies and pups for when haching time comes I'll be set and want have to worry abour ordering any..

Again thanks for all the advice. I look forward to this new part of the adventure that is snake keeping.

[monk90222]

I bought a Food Saver just for rats

A wise man once told me to partially freeze the rats before vacuum sealing them, or the mouth and rear end of the rats are the exit points for the guts..if you get my drift...

[Freakie_frog]

Very cool thanks for the tip. Also might help them hold their shape better. Thanks dude.