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  1. #1
    Registered User Postdust's Avatar
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    Lacking Patience?

    I have a rat rack that hold seven tubs. I have a 1.3 set up and all of my rats are 250 plus. Some of the males are huge. I have had the set up for 5 weeks. Temps are 70 -80 at all times. All of the rats look super healthy and seem to be eating and drinking perfectly. I clean my tubs 2 times a week. The issue is I don't see any mucous plugs or signs of breeding whatsoever. Is this ok and am I just lacking patience? Thanks

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    80* is quite warm for rodents- rodents have a high metabolism & they tend to become infertile when too warm. 70* is ideal. Remember they're making their own body heat too- that's added to the ambient temperature- so if they're crowded, or if the ventilation isn't so good, those warmer temperatures are a bigger deal-breaker.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

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  4. #3
    Registered User Postdust's Avatar
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    Re: Lacking Patience?

    Sorry, I should be more clear when I originally started they were in my shed and there was a few times when the temps got to 80 for a few hours. I now have them in my garage with central heat and air and it stays around 72. As for ventilation they are in a corner of my garage but my garage is huge. Should I get them out of the corner?

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    Bogertophis's Avatar
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    I can't really answer that- I have no idea how big their tubs are or how much actual ventilation they have (full wire mesh top???), & by "1.3" I assume that's one male + 3 females per tub? That's a bit hectic- when I bred rats, I preferred 1.1 or 1.2 at most.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

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  7. #5
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    I'm only breeding mice these days (no longer need rats & prefer them as pets, not "feeders", anyway)- but mice are the same way- they produce like crazy with 1.2- but 1.3 (or more) they just don't. 3 is family, 4 is a crowd?
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

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  9. #6
    Registered User Postdust's Avatar
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    Re: Lacking Patience?

    Ok thanks, I appreciate the advice! Maybe I should down size a bit.

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    If it was only one male floating through tubs? Then I would say you got stuck with a dud like I did at first.
    Several of them has got to be a weird fluke.

    If you're working with 3 females to a tub, I would honestly just cycle the male through every 2 weeks instead of keeping so many males with females.
    You'll be feeding the males less and momma rats will get a small break between breeding which will keep the litter sizes up. Leaving the male with females gets them pregnant every 2 weeks if not sooner and they'll burn out faster as breeders.

    Rats are usually great parents, but 1.3 in a tub and 30+ babies is a bit crazy. Even with just 3 females and babies in a tub, sometimes the smaller pinkies get crowded out and starve so you're loosing out.

    How many snakes are you feeding?

    I have 1 male for 5 tubs with 2-3 females each. I had to freeze off a few rats now that the production is finally going smooth.
    I just change the tub the male is in every other bedding change and it's working smooth. Aside from one possible cannibalism issue...every litter is producing 12 at least for me.

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    Re: Lacking Patience?

    I’m feeding 30 ball pythons, 2 boas, 1 retic, a Hognose and a sand boa

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    Oof. Yeah you have a lot to feed.
    Hopefully they start producing soon. If it seems like the litters are small or anything like that then you may need to do another rack with the 2 females to the tub and cycling a male.

    Good luck on it.

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