Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everybody, I've just started a rat breeding project to feed my three pythons and I've learned quite a bit on these forums. Thanks! One thing I haven't seen too much discussion about is procedures used while cleaning cages or removing pinkies and pups and dealing with their ferocious moms. I've gotten nailed a few times by protective momma rats and was wondering wqhat you guys do. I've tried wearing welding gloves but it makes it too hard to handle the little critters. Help!

I've been bitten by mama rats more times than by all of my two dozen snakes combined--so I understand. I notch the top edge of the 15 gal. tank the rat is in, and cut thin boards to slide in and create a wall. Note: Do not use peg board. Mama rats can scale it like a ladder. Chase mom down the other end, slide in the board, hope that she left enough babies behind to satisfy your need at the time, and then let mama back out. Oh, and if you're using a screened top, place it upside down over the capture end and weight it so mom can't jump out.

I finally switched all but one ball python over to frozen thawed rodents. Now the only rat in the house is named "Lucy", who eats raspberries and peanut butter sandwich. I buy the two feeders I need from a local source. Can't say that I miss the breeders. Best of luck with your project.
Regards,
althea

That's so funny! I have never been bitten by an adult snake, other then the ATB I just sold. And the only female rat that ever bit me became snake food real fast! If I couldn't handle them without getting bit I wouldn't keep them! Only breed the gentle ones!(I'm talking about the rats here, not the snakes )
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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

groups.yahoo.com/group/agamid/join
(click the link to join the agamid group on yahoo)

My secret to dealing with homicidal psyhco killer momma rats is.........sunflower seeds! Separating the cage is definitely safer for you and the rats, but I've found that if I toss a small handful of sunflower seeds in an area away from the babies, or whatever area I need to work with, momma couldn't care less what I do to the babies...as long as there's sunflower seeds to eat.
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2.2 Ball Python-Ailis, Ixidor.Laina, Mirri
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boa-Kamahl.Akroma
1.0 Betta-Marty
1.0 white Doberman-Luke

My secret for Mamma rats is to socialize the momma's - I got my breeders while they were still juvenile, treated them like a pet and got them acustomed to handling. Now I am in the cage w/ the babies daily and momma doesn't bother me at all. Perhaps a change in your breeders would be of help - you can almost always sell your current biters off to the local pet shop as feeders.
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Russ

>>Hi everybody, I've just started a rat breeding project to feed my three pythons and I've learned quite a bit on these forums. Thanks! One thing I haven't seen too much discussion about is procedures used while cleaning cages or removing pinkies and pups and dealing with their ferocious moms. I've gotten nailed a few times by protective momma rats and was wondering wqhat you guys do. I've tried wearing welding gloves but it makes it too hard to handle the little critters. Help!

I am with Russ and I prefer to socialize my moms so that they trust me and not be nippy even through birth. I have several that drop pups in my hand and a couple I got from a friend that tend to 'escort' my hand away. But right now I have no monsters. That said, you may get one that still is not in the mood. I then tend to tail them out of the cage and into a 5 gal bucket. This is my 'holding' tank while I clean all cages. I take out the offending mom first then get the others out. Then I can count, socialize or whatever the pups. The babies go into their own separate bucket. Clean the cage and put the babies back, then the moms back. Done.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Great ideas from everybody. Thanks for all the replies. You've definitely made my life easier.(safer, too)