Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Please excuse the noobness of this question but I don't know and don't know where else to find out.

I wanna start breeding rats for my pythons and I get the general idea of keeping like 4 or 5 females and 1 male seperate.

Questions is: When do you introdudce a male and for what amount of time n such?

Then when a female is obviously pregnant do you remove her from the other females?

Finally can it be done with 1 male n 1 female? I wont be needing hundreds of rats or anything.
-----
1.0 Ball Python
1.0 Burmees Python

First off, you need to have the male in with a female rat for at least 10 days to ensure she gets pregnant. Rats come into 'season' every 5 days or so, so keeping a male in with her for 10 days ensures at least one fertile period for him to do what needs to be done.

You can keep a 1:1 group together (one male, one female) and you can get 8-20 babies every 21-25 days. It is always best to keep mice in groups as they are very social creatures. Unlike mice though, you can have two male rats together without constant fighting though if they are in with females, fighting can happen.

with a 1.1 pair if you want to have a constant supply of rats then you just leave the male in with the female all the time. They are good parents. My male runs around like a mad man with his 3 girls trying to help take care of the babies, the only thing he gets in return is a good batting around.

It takes about 4wks for the babies to reach small rat size, and males seem to grow faster than females. Rats reach sexual maturity at 5wks, so if you don't want any more babies, but want bigger rats, get to rubbermaids (modify to your needs, as in cutting the lid, making a food drop, etc...etc...) to serve as overflow bins for the females and males.
-----
1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 1.0 western hognose

Thanks for the very valuable info guys. I think 1 male and 1 female will keep me in good standing. My ball doesn't eat much anymore in his old age and the burm will take care of the rest I guess.
-----
1.0 Ball Python
1.0 Burmees Python

I never remove the male from the females until it is time to feed one off.

Denver Tom