Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I come to the gurus of rat and mice breeding for more help. My first litter of pups were born on July 28th. My question is, how do I make sure the babies are getting water. I believe they will be weaned long before they can reach the auto watering system. Any suggestions on how to make sure they are getting enough water.

Thanks Miller

Ldy Payne, I did not mention your name specifically when I sent out my thank you a while back because I forgot your screen name, so I thank you now for the help you have given me in the past and hopefully in the future.
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Miller
0.1 Florida King
1.0 Chow Chow
0.2 Cats

You are most welcome

As for your question about babies getting all the water they need, I am assuming you mean after they are fully weaned. Before that they get all the water they need from their mother's milk. If your water system is too high and you are worried they won't be able to reach the water nozzle, you can do a few things. Put all the weaned rats into a separate container with standard sipper bottles at a comfortable height for them. Place a heavy object underneath the water nozzle so they can reach it. (a brick or stable rock will do, just make sure they can't dig underneath it. The object has to be heavy enough so the rats won't move it away). The last option I can think of is lower the nozzle, just make sure (if the nozzle is rubber and not metal) the rats can't chew holes through it.

Hope these suggestions help. I haven't used the auto-watering systems myself but have seen how they are set up in racks in photos so I noticed they don't necessary extend deep into the bins, as you don't want the adult rats to be able to chew through the none metal parts. Shadower bins for the weaned rats maybe the best way to go, or separate containers, it really depends on what works for you.

What she said and I would caution that if you can't make water available for them around 3 or 4 wks old they can't wean and or you will lose them. Dehydration will kill them way before starvation.
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Sonya

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

Thanks to you both. I will try to rig their inclosure to allow them to have water.

Miller.
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Miller
0.1 Florida King
1.0 Chow Chow
0.2 Cats
1.1 Eastern Kings