Suprise! You have Babies!

[Jay_Bunny]

We've had Roo (berk dumbo male) in with Gazelle (albino female) for a few days now. When we went into the room to work on the rat rack (the pain in my rear) we saw Gazelle sitting on top 9 pinkies. We know they are not Roo's and we know for certain they are Kermit's (black hooded male).

When Gazelle had her first litter, she gave birth in the breeding tank with Kermit. We now figure he bred her after birth and now this is the resulting litter. Her first litter babies are now 4 weeks old. So this is her last chance at being a breeder. If a large number of these die, she is snake food.

Question. We have removed Roo and she is now by herself but we know she had to have given birth sometime today. Is it possible that she could have been bred again by Roo? This latest litter was unexpected. I saw her getting a bit plump but I thought it was just because she eats so much.

[littleindiangirl]

It's very possible she's pregnant again. Rats go into eustrus immediately after birth and not again until the animals are weaned.

I'm surprised she wasn't showing that much, but again I know some rats can hide a small litter very well.

[rabernet]

Yes, if he bred her right after she had her first litter - she'll "hold" the sperm for one week, and then will begin gestation, right at the 4 week mark. Be sure that you give her a LONG rest after this if you plan to breed her again (but I think I read you said that you weren't).

[Jay_Bunny]

Well I was planning on breeding her with Roo after her first litter so she was in with him when she had the babies (since I didn't even know she was pregnant) and I'm worried Roo has bred her. That would be 3 consecutive litters if she's pregnant by Roo after this litter.

She will not be placed in with a male for a while. If she turns out to not be pregnant by Roo then she will have a nice long break before I breed her again.