Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Killing babies? Ive noticed my young males never do and even when they get older they still dont but any time i get a new male older than 6 months he always seems to kill all the babies any advice besides feeding him lol :-D

I think a Spanking is in order!! Cause Therapy is Quite pricey during this recession........All in All try a new male ...Chris

If you can explain exactly what you're doing, how you're introducing them, etc, it will help to figure out what's going on. Sounds like it's something that you're doing wrong.

Are you actually witnessing the male killing the babies or assuming it's the male doing it?

I've been breeding rats for about 4 years now (but I'm not an expert) and I've never had the first male kill any babies. When introducing new males to established colonies always replace the bedding and then place them together. It's new, non-territorial ground that way. Nobody's trying to defend/protect their turf.

Later!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

>>Killing babies? Ive noticed my young males never do and even when they get older they still dont but any time i get a new male older than 6 months he always seems to kill all the babies any advice besides feeding him lol :-D

Unless you colony is dependent on the female rat getting pregnant again right away use separate birthing tubs. Helps reduce stress and I find bigger litters. Of course the male isn't in there either....
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

I would have to agree with Jeremy. I try to always seperate females from the breeding group before they pop. Sometimes, when i'm really pressed for space, i'll put two females from the same breeding group in the same tub to have babies. But thats about as far as I would press momma rats.
Every once in a blue moom i'll see a momma kill her babies but it is a freek ocurance. (she then becomes snake food!)
Paul

one thing I have to make sure and do cuz I run all 3-1 when I can help it in a black tote system, is if there is an introduction on either side male or female that there are NO baby's. I have had the add on to the group kill the babys, but if there are none to kill it seems they all get along by the time the baby's are born.