Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Folks,

I am a relatively new breeder of rats. I have an established 1.2 group that continues to produce for me.

However I have a 1.2 group that continues to be a problem for me. The second group has not produced a litter that has lived to date 3 litters have come and gone. First two litters were eaten only spinal coloumns and head left. Two days ago another litter was born, aside from 2 still born babies it appeared that there were approximately 8-12 pinkies that mom appeared to be nursing well. I thought that they finally figured it out. I was wrong. I went into the room to feed (daily routine) this morning and peered in to find all babies completely gone. I removed the 1.2 group to see if there were any remains left, as I began removing the group the mom had 1 deceased baby that she appeared to be moving with her mouth (I am guessing trying to protect). After removing the 1.2 I could not find any remains of any of the babies at all in the bedding. I have to assume they have been eaten.

The question I have is, I have heard this is normal with mice, and I have already established a 1.2 group that is producing fine. But for some reason this 1.2 group is killing off the offspring. I don't know if the problem lies with the male, the mother or the other female. I also haven't a clue which mother produced which of the last 2 litters as well.

Am I better off throwing in the towel and feeding this group off?

Should I get rid of the females and keep the male?

I am puzzled as to what to do or why this continues with this group.

thanks
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0.2 Normal Adult ball pythons
0.2 Normal Adult ball pythons (on breeding loan)
0.1 Sub-adult
1.0 Normal ball python
1.1 Bell Line Pastel Ball pythons
1.0 Adult Het Albino Ball Python
1.0 Het Pied Ball Python
1.0 Het Carmel Ball Python
1.0 66% Het pied Ball python
0.2 50% Het albino Ball Pythons

Interested in a breeding loan? Email me....

If it were me I would feed off all of the group, get some new young girls and grow them up. You can get a new male too or just swap the one male you have back and forth. I keep my males in a cage and move them in with the girls groups to time litters and know the genes of the breedings. I breed hairless, blues, dumbos and can then sell 'extras' as pets.
I also have a group of mean moms that breed like crazy and make huge babies in large numbers, but they are psychos.(named Beater and Biter) I kinda like them, 'cause there is no way to fall in love with them and they make great snake food babies. They also make great foster moms. They are just weaning their second foster litter. Between the two of them they had 29 babies, I added 9 more a week later. They raised all of them and were just weaning (4 wks) when I tossed in a litter of 11 newborn hairless dumbo (sometimes hairless can't lactate and that happened with a breeding). Now they are weaning the eleven and I am gonna put in the male again.
BTW temperament is SO inherited. The eleven hairless dumbo are from a very sweet and mellow line and all the pups are too, even though they have lived all their lives with psychos.
It is worth the effort to get a good producing line established.
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Sonya

Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with the software.

I agree with Sonya. Feed that group off. I allow my breeders to kill/eat the first litter...after that they do it again, they get fed off.

Hey.when the rat has babies dont fool with her for a couple days.Give her a nest box and a salt spool.........If she still eats her babies she was not meant to be a mom...

Feed them off. Don't waste time with them. You have one group that produces well. I suggest that you raise 1.3 of them up to breed. That way you avoid the chance of bring in another bad group and the chance of bringing in some disease that infects or kills your productive group. My son and Sybella have rats from me that have inbred 4 generations without ill effect.

Good Luck
DeMak