Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I am going into the end of week three with my first two litters of rats. They all weigh over 50 grams and I have seen them nibbling on the block, but they are all still nursing. I have no need to pull them from mom but I do have a grow out rack waiting for them. Is there any issues with leaving them with mom for a longer period, like one more week? Or should I pull them right at the end of 3 weeks of birth? The only reason I was thinking about leaving them longer was because the do seem to be nursing often with mom still and I do not have to rush mom back into being pregnant for another week or so. Thanks for the help.

Mark
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STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

won't hurt either way

....
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JY
Scales-N-Tails
reptiles ltd.

keep them in with mom for 4 weeks. Three weeks I find is too soon, especially if they are not fully weaned. Also, the extra time with mother means they are likely to grow faster and be healthier.

You could take out the largest of the babies, to ease up on competition for her milk if the litter is pretty large, but they are fine to stay for 4 weeks.
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PHLdyPayne

I leave mine with mom till they are small's.

However I don't raise many litters beyond the small size point. Basically when they reach "small", they are big enough to eat and drink on their own.

Cheers
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
0.1 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 Anerthrystic

1.1 Morelia Clastolepis

Hi,

The males weigh 60 grams and the females are around 45 to 50 grams. They are still nursing daily. Technically would the rats drink milk forever if they were never weaned? I was thinking that why pull them now if I can supplement their diets with milk for another week if I am able to leave them in. Most of my snakes will be eating smalls to medium size rats too so the litters will be fed off in the next 2 weeks as well.

Thanks for the post,
Mark
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STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

45 is probably a good point assuming they can reach food and water, and even then a 2x4 can give a boost.

60 is well on their way.

After a certain point the young rats will tax the moms milk production to a unhealthy point. In addition they will start eating the chow on their own meaning they will get fat.

Fat rats aren't the healthest feeders, either.

I would wean them and get the mom back in to the breeding mix.
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
0.1 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 Anerthrystic

1.1 Morelia Clastolepis