Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Tanya, my fuzzy rat, gave birth to her first litter last night. In the photo you can see her mate Psycho Paul peeking over the nest box; she wont let him in the nest. She seems to be handling parenthood quite well. These fuzzy rats sometimes have trouble with maternity, it depends on the strain of fuzzy. I guess I have the good ones! LOL!

These are my only rats, and are pets. She worked all night on the new nest box to create the nest, so that is why it is in shambles this morning.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

LOL!!,.......I see she's got everything "decorated" just so for her new baby room!

congrats!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Thanks!
She had moved that box all around in the 40 gallon breeder tank, but finally moved it (what little remained of it!) back over the UTH to give birth and nurse the pups.

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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Is she a hairless? I read somewhere that some strains (or all) of hairless are unable to produce milk, even though they get pregnant and give birth normally. The babies have to be fostered to other rats.
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Kent

0.1 Hypomelanistic striped cornsnake
1.1 Hypo (het lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
2.2 Normal (het hypo, lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
1.2 Gray-banded kingsnakes, blairs phase
1.1 Oregon rubber boas

Is she a hairless? I read somewhere that some strains (or all) of hairless are unable to produce milk, even though they get pregnant and give birth normally. The babies have to be fostered to other rats.

They are an unrelated pair of hairless, although they are covered with a fine down and have whiskers. They feel like velour. They both come from lines that have been successful with lactation.

This photo is from when I first got them over a month ago.

All the babies are showing milk bands and are content, so she is lactating successfully.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Congrats on the new babies. I look on here as I'm feeding my snakes and see fresh snake food on the hoof. LOL Just teasing.

With a name like Psycho Paul little wonder she won't let him in the nest box. Does PP have some issues? Hopefully she will let him in as rat papas are usually very good with the babies.

Rats make good pets, hairless rats make great pets. Always seemed that my wife's hairless were always more interactive and curious. Reach in their cage and they come over to check you out, grab your fingers and smell them. Really pretty cute and they're so warm to the touch. I recently go her another pair and she is waiting for them to produce some babies.

Best of luck with them and keep us updated on their progress.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

With a name like Psycho Paul little wonder she won't let him in the nest box. Does PP have some issues? Hopefully she will let him in as rat papas are usually very good with the babies.
Psycho Paul and Tanya are named after a couple of characters in the British TV comedy Ideal (one of my favorite shows!)

She is getting more relaxed now and letting him in the nest.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Unless you want another litter in 3 weeks, you should separate them. That can be a lot of babies to find homes for, unless you plan on using them as feeders. It can also be hard on mom to produce back to back litters.
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Kent

0.1 Hypomelanistic striped cornsnake
1.1 Hypo (het lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
2.2 Normal (het hypo, lavender, striped) cornsnake hatchlings
1.2 Gray-banded kingsnakes, blairs phase
1.1 Oregon rubber boas

You are right. I put the papa in a different cage already.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire