Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok i have just got into breeding rats and have since had the first litter of 7 rat pups.everythings going fine to this point then two days later i notice the female that had the babies had a swollen lump on the side of her head /neck area.Since monday evening i have seperated her ina tub of her own along with the babies Now this swollen lump has become visibly larger and turned blackish looking ? any ideas on what this would be ? and for the last answer i think i may know this but never hurts to ask Im thinking i should put her down , and the babies aswell 5 remaing as the first day i fed two boas and hadent seen any signs of any lumps when this happened. should i consider the remaing pups to be "tainted" or harmful to feed my boas" should i put down the other rats that were in with this group? any insights will be greatly headed .As i stated im new to rats so not sure if this is common for rats ? something contagious to the others ? or not so thats why i have asked thanks
-----
Buisnesses come and go everyday, what keeps you here is how you treated the customer the day before....

I would personally have a close look at the lump. If you have to wrap her in a towel and have a look at it. Does it have a 'head' or opening. I would think at first that this is a abscess of some sort caused by an injury or bite. It may be as simple as draining it, cleaning it, meds and letting her heal. That said if she is gonna bite the heck out of you that may not be simple. But that would be my first suspicion.
-----
Sonya

Hmmm....some guesses as to what it could be. An infected wound, such as a bite. A tumor, which mice and rats are prone to. I lost a female breeder to a tumor once, and my rat (not for breeding) developed one that subsequently paralysed it's hind legs and had to be put down. The only other thing I can think of is a hematoma, or bruise under the skin , that is swelling up with blood. Has the rat had an injury recently? Is she housed with other rats, or have you seperated her with her litter?
-----
1.1 Ball Python
0.0.1 corn snake
1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.0.2 fish
1.2 cats
3.1 kids
1.0 husband

It's hard to diagnose without seeing it. Sounds like Sonya and Kikai are probably right though. I wouldn't consider the offspring 'tainted' though.

DeMak

Hey and thanks for the replies , the "sist" as it looked has been busted open not sure how , but seem like a cavity there now and she doesnt appear to have any ill feelings from it.The mother and babies are in a seperate container and shes still caring for them so im leaving her in with them for now.more then not she will have help from a rat that will drop by daylight probably so i could transfer them to her then . thanks again for the help.I was going to the reptile show this weekend but i think ill be building a rack and venting system for the shop ... take care
-----
Buisnesses come and go everyday, what keeps you here is how you treated the customer the day before....