Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had my first babies last night. I got six pups from one of my first time moms. Is this about normal? How long should I leave her alone before I clean her bedding. I would like to weigh the babies but I don't want to add any extra stress on mom. Never thought breeding feeders would be exciting. Thanks for any help. Clay

6 is a small litter but first time mothers sometimes have that... Most of my litters average between 10 and 14... I'd give the new mom a couple days before you disturb her.. at least 4 days... even if she's used to handling and stuff.. no telling how she'll be with babies in the nest. I have one female who could care less but her sister bites me everytime I try and put my hand in the cage when she has a litter.. I keep her for the pup production only.

>>6 is a small litter but first time mothers sometimes have that... Most of my litters average between 10 and 14... I'd give the new mom a couple days before you disturb her.. at least 4 days... even if she's used to handling and stuff.. no telling how she'll be with babies in the nest. I have one female who could care less but her sister bites me everytime I try and put my hand in the cage when she has a litter.. I keep her for the pup production only.

I wear gloves when I try to touch the moms. Othertimes, I have long hemostats for looking at the babies.

My gloves were really great buy. I bought them for $.25 for the pair. It was an yard sale. We have them all the time on our air force base. Since it is a base housing sale, the prices are incredibly great.

The 25 cent gloves are made of leather and I let the mom rats bite me as much as they want to. Doesn't hurt me at all. The leather is thick and good! If you would like to see pictures, just let me know. I have my digital cam ready for taking pictures of my setups.

I havent' been courageous (or dumb) enough yet to try the leather gloves on my hot snakes yet. In all likelihood, I will never try it. It isn't worth the chance, even if these are just pigmies and the have only like 1/4" to 1/2" teeth.

sicnerely.
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Longtang. I like snakes and rats.

If it's not to much grieve, I would like to see these gloves

Thanks
Bruce

>>I had my first babies last night. I got six pups from one of my first time moms. Is this about normal? How long should I leave her alone before I clean her bedding. I would like to weigh the babies but I don't want to add any extra stress on mom. Never thought breeding feeders would be exciting. Thanks for any help. Clay

How old is the mom rat? How many weeks is she? What weight is the mom? I am asking because I am trying to breed a first time mom myself. In fact, the first time mom should be about one week preg. at this point. I am hope she will also have six babies.

How old was your rat when she got pregnant? Mine was ten weeks old and about 260 grams.

Can you give me your number so I can have an idea for comparison?

thx.
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Longtang. I like snakes and rats.

I am not sure how old she was because i bought her as a small feeder. I put a male with her when she was right about 250g. Sorry i coundn't be more help. By the way what base are you at. We are at Shaw AFB in Sumter SC Thanks Clay

>>I am not sure how old she was because i bought her as a small feeder. I put a male with her when she was right about 250g. Sorry i coundn't be more help. By the way what base are you at. We are at Shaw AFB in Sumter SC Thanks Clay

My wife and I are at Andrews Air Force Base Near washington d.c.

This morning, the beautiful women of the miss america pageant came to our base, the home of Air Force One. It was a morale booster set up by the USO. If you are looking for it on ABC, the contest is on 20 sept. You will probably see the event on tape. I work with some exceptional young airmen airwomen here @ Andrews. They deserved to have this morale building breakfast with Miss America event

P.s. I sat with Miss California's table. She represents my home state well. She is pretty cute. She's got it locked to win the next title of Miss America. I am certain of it. yep.

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Here is a picture of me and my wife and some of my herps. I made the whole thing into a composite potpouri pic. As you can see, my wife . . . she could've have been Miss America herself, In her own right. She'd won it hands-down no contest!

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Longtang. I like snakes and rats.