Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Someone told me they have highly prolific lab rats that produce 6-12 babies/litter about every 3 weeks. He said that regular 'pet store' rats average about 6-12 babies/litter every 3-6 weeks. I'm wondering how accurate this sounds to any of you. Also, would any of the live feeder rats that one would buy at a petstore be equivalent to the higher output 'lab' type rats he is refering to or would they be only average producers. I'm wondering because if I buy feeder rats from a breeder, wouldn't they be using high producing 'lab' type rats.
I am in Canada, and he said he brought the lab rats in from the states and he will sell them for around $15 US each and I'm just wondering if it is worth it when I can buy regular feeder rats for around $3-$4.
Thanks again,
Mike

If you leave the male in with the females all the time, all rats will produce a litter about every three weeks. It doesn't make any difference where you buy them from. The size of the litter and how well the mother rat raises the litter may be a different matter.

I sell mice and rats to the pet stores. I am a breeder. I would expect all pet stores buy from a breeder. My mice are Swiss Websters because they are good producers and that is what I sell to the pet stores. My point is that you are as likely to get very good breeders from a pet store as any where else.

Hope I answered your question.

Wade
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Wade's Weptiles & Wodents

>>Someone told me they have highly prolific lab rats that produce 6-12 babies/litter about every 3 weeks. He said that regular 'pet store' rats average about 6-12 babies/litter every 3-6 weeks. I'm wondering how accurate this sounds to any of you. Also, would any of the live feeder rats that one would buy at a petstore be equivalent to the higher output 'lab' type rats he is refering to or would they be only average producers. I'm wondering because if I buy feeder rats from a breeder, wouldn't they be using high producing 'lab' type rats.
>>I am in Canada, and he said he brought the lab rats in from the states and he will sell them for around $15 US each and I'm just wondering if it is worth it when I can buy regular feeder rats for around $3-$4.
>>Thanks again,
>>Mike

I personally feel it is 'dumb luck' whether you get some genetics that produce and raise big litters. I have a line of cream and tan rats that were given to me by some well meaning 'rescuer'. She knew I was gonna raise them for feeders but was desperate to get rid of them. These rats had run wild in her apartment and bit... hard!..but every breeding they make 12-20 babies each and raise them all to an easy 50 grams by the time their eyes open. They are cows. I keep telling them (usually right after I get nailed by one or the other) that they are going in the freezer if their litter count drops. Darn things are on their 7 or 8th set each and still foster raising for me and going strong. They eat like cows too, but who cares. I would go find some healthy, robust medium young rats and go from there.
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Sonya

Some strains of rats do produce better than others. Usually that difference is so marginal, that unless you have hundreds or thousands, it will make no difference. Pick healthy, clear eyed, dry nosed rats with no skin problems. On your second and third generations, pick from moms that have consistant large litters of healthy pups and nurture them well. Bingo, you will have your own 'super' strain.

Your observation that most breeders will use high producing strains is right on. To do otherwise would be like owning a trucking company and using small trucks that waste fuel.

There is also a limit to how many calories and how much nutrition a mom can process through her body. At some point, larger litters must equal smaller pups.

DeMak

DeMak

I think a lot of people don't pay enough attention to family history. With my mice, I have doubled my production by picking new colonies only from good producing colonies. I keep good records and if a colony isn't producing I get rid of them and don't use any of their offspring for future colonies.

Sonja mentioned biting rats. I think to a large extent personalities are passed down from parents. Nervous mothers have nervous babies. Biters produce biters. Part of that carries over to mothers that are calm, good mothers that raise the whole litter to weanling size, produce babies that will do the same with their litters.

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Wade's Weptiles & Wodents

I couldn't agree more. I think some folks get caught up on how many pups are born. I think the important numbers are how many are weaned and how much they weigh at weaning. I agree about behavioral traits also. I grew up with Springer Spaniels. You could not keep those dogs out of the water. Now I have a Terrier/Whippet mix that doesn't even like walking across wet grass. I know there are thousands of generations of breeding to accentuate these traits in dogs, just an example.

DeMak

>>I couldn't agree more. I think some folks get caught up on how many pups are born. I think the important numbers are how many are weaned and how much they weigh at weaning. I agree about behavioral traits also.

I agree totally. The ONLY reason I keep the biters is because they make huge litters and wean them bigger than my other rats. I am slowly keeping young and trying to breed out the biting without losing the production. I hate biters. I love my dumbos as they are so mellow and good moms.....almost too cute to freeze off though.
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Sonya

When you mean "biters" is that common behavior daily? I have one female Black Hooded that only bites when Pups are present, and is tame as can be the rest of the time.
Breeders I use are of different color variations and patterns which produced average litters of 12 to 13 pups of consistant large size. Daily interaction with the rats has also reduced behavioral factors. Most breeders I work with interact daily with adults and not just keep them in a tray or tank. I believe that strain, handling, diet, and housing are important factors to consider when breeding for size and behavior whether feeder or show quality.

I raise lots of mice and rats. I have around 100 colonies of mice right now. I don't remember the last time I was bitten. I would say for me it would be very unusual.
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Wade's Weptiles & Wodents

>>When you mean "biters" is that common behavior daily?

Yup. They are the only ones I tolerate it from. I have had rats for 30yrs, as feeders and pets and I wouldn't normally keep ones as down right MEAN as these two. I am raising daughters and haven't got a solid half dozen or so that I am happy with to say....enough, and freeze off these two. And, like I say, they just reproduce too darn well. But yup, rabidly mean.....chase you out of the cage, bite arms through your shirt...., grab them by the tail and bucket them to clean cage or count babies. All my other rats are puppy tame and meet you at the door. Half of them will bring out pups to put in your hand.
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Sonya

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