Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok heres the few answers im looking for ?
1-I have purchased about 6 females & two male rats i have them in groups of 1.3 for breeding. Now my question is will this be to many females in the breeding group for the males to service?will it cause probleems?

2-what is the average pregnancy ( days weeks ) for rats ?

3- I live in a smaleer town with virtually NO petshops i got my rats from a local guy who i founds that breeds them and asked about rodent blocks for food and he said he just uses gerbil/ guinnea pig mix to feed them ? is this sufficent to the rats health and nutrients they need ?

4- i have also heard and read some of you feed dogfood ? i have heard that dogfood has dyes in it which can Kill my snakes in which this project will be feeding?

thanks for any response in advancer as i have to really get theese going due to the closet ride is over 45 miles away foir feeders thanks
-----
Buisnesses come and go everyday, what keeps you here is how you treated the customer the day before....

>>Ok heres the few answers im looking for ?
>>1-I have purchased about 6 females & two male rats i have them in groups of 1.3 for breeding. Now my question is will this be to many females in the breeding group for the males to service?will it cause probleems?

Oh, no way. One male can service many girls. I rotate my male around and he deals with nearly a dozen girls no probs.

>>
>>2-what is the average pregnancy ( days weeks ) for rats ?
>>
21 days. But from the day they are put together it may be 3 or 4 days before the females cycle and become impregnated. Same with right after birth breed backs. So, reality a few days over 3 wks.

>>3- I live in a smaleer town with virtually NO petshops i got my rats from a local guy who i founds that breeds them and asked about rodent blocks for food and he said he just uses gerbil/ guinnea pig mix to feed them ? is this sufficent to the rats health and nutrients they need ?

Not if you are gonna breed them all the time. I would add a dye free dog kibble with a high teens to 23% protein. Sometimes mix in cat kibbles too. Especially with growing pups or worn down girls. And mine get various and sundry other stuff. Leftovers etc.
>>
>>4- i have also heard and read some of you feed dogfood ? i have heard that dogfood has dyes in it which can Kill my snakes in which this project will be feeding?
>>
So you don't feed dog kibble with dyes.....there are a lot with dye but there are a lot without and you just need to read the label. I feed Blue Seals. There is higher end Nutro, California Natural, Diamond and bunches of others.
-----
Sonya

thanks thats what i was needing to find out buying and driving 45 miles was killing my boa funds ... lol thanks again
-----
Buisnesses come and go everyday, what keeps you here is how you treated the customer the day before....

I feed my females 26% protein. From what i can tell, they need the extra nourishment to develop and nurse the babies. Don't feed gerbil/hampster food. Its mostly seed which they don't need. It won't hurt them, just won't help much. Good luck!

Scott