Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,so Wich are the reasons why the babys die? Beside when the mother eats them.
THANKS

I think some more specifics would help is giving the proper answer, Are you having problems with baby's dieing? Whats going on exactly?
Foot Hill Reptiles

Yes, more details.
More specifics, like what animal you're talking about, etc....

I was talking about rats and mice

Infant mortality among feeder rodents has many causes, no matter how many you can predict, there are many more that you can't.
Therefore, since nobody responded, I guess I'll start the list and others will continue it, should they feel so inclined.
I would guess environmental conditions would be atop the list.

Things like respiratory failure, pesticide and other toxic contaminants (Even in the smallest amounts.), basically, failure to keep conditions optimal for raising their young. Basic sanitation and common sense will combat most of these.

I would guess the next most common would be conditions affecting the mother, whether they are stress related or physiological.
Lack of proper food, water, proximity to disturbances like predators, loud noises, poor climate, and having to combat other aminals to get food and water, as well as guarding her babies are all stressful. Mommies need away time too, and lack of R R takes it's toll in the way the babies are raised.
Dietary conditions would be next, I would assume. The lack of food and water is one thing, but providing lots of food that doesn't provide for the dietary requirements for the nursing mother is another. There are so many things that rat and mouse mommies require in the area of diet that I won't insult anyone and try to pass my small understanding of same as all-inclusive.
Enough fat and protein, trace elements like copper, iron, etc, vitamins, carbs to keep them all going, are all important.
Short chain fatty acids, probiotics, enzymes, and many other factors must also be provided for, as the babies will soon need to digest food on their own. These have to come from somewhere.
Mommy can't make them all, so they have to come from the native diet, as they are all locality and food source specific.

If you provide the basics and your babies are stil dying, I would guess that genetics are next, as is the size of the litter and the experience of the mother. I wouldn't be too quick to blame genetics, as most of these animals are selectively bred for large litters (High workload.) and quick turnaround.
This makes for a lot of happy babies and a skinny mommy. This (I would assume.) is the reason for their current shortened lifespan. As they get older, their fertility drops off, making them less viable as contributors and more likely to be predator fodder.

Tag, you're it.

THANKS, let me describe my situation:
Currently I have just 4 rats (3 females and 1 mae), the measures of their cage are this: 50x30cm and 20cm tall, my rats eat pig breeder food (is the most similar thing to rodent food that I can get, and is really cheap, they eat trogh the top wich is made of mesh sieve. They always have food and water available.
So, do you think that my problem is that I nevere separete the females from the male, so all them are always togheter?
THANKS

Seperating them once the babies are born is too late, it's best if you're going to seperate them to do it a week before she pops.
It's not ususally necessary to separate them unless you cycle breed, it may help, but usually isn't necessary.
I have a few more questions, like what bedding you're using?
(Pine and cedar aren't good for rats.)
Are your rats sneezing? Itching?
What fat% and protein% is their food?
What is the temp of the room they're in?
Did you give the rats nesting material so the babies aren't on the cold floor?

Rats are usually pretty good at raising their young, but first time mommies sometimes let the first litter die from lack of experience.
Also, unless you need full grown rats, I try to make sure that the nests stay about even, don't let one mommy steal all the babies and then they all die because the others can't feed them.
Certain strain of rat aren't good for breeding, like hairless rats.
Anybody else got ideas?

I was mid thought and typed something else.
If you need full grown rats it usually isn't good for a mommy to have more than 12 babies to raise by herself. If you just raise them to 2 weeks to feed smaller snakes you can usually watch them to make sure they all have milk in their bellies. If you look closely you can see the big white spot on their belly that is the milk they've eaten. As long as they all have that 'milk band' they will usually make it. If you dig through a pile a babies and at the bottom are a few that are really skinny and with no milk bands, those are usually the ones to die, either give them to a nursing mommy with smaller/less babies or put them in the freezer in a ziplock baggie. They prolly won't make it anyway.