Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My rat pups are walking, have their eyes open, and have good sized teeth (I checked). These babies relying on the mom's seems to put too much stress on them and inhibit breeding again. I've separated them into a mouse breeding tub since they are about the size of oversized mice. Will they be able to figure out how to use the water bottles and eat the hard food?

rats wean between 3-4 weeks. You should not separate them from their mother until you are sure they are drinking and eating on their own. If separated too soon, they may not survive or if they do, their growth will slow down quite a bit compared to siblings left with the mother for the full 3-4 weeks.

>>My rat pups are walking, have their eyes open, and have good sized teeth (I checked). These babies relying on the mom's seems to put too much stress on them and inhibit breeding again. I've separated them into a mouse breeding tub since they are about the size of oversized mice. Will they be able to figure out how to use the water bottles and eat the hard food?

Sounds like they are 2-2.5 wks old and NOT old enough to be without mom. It would be like saying an infant that is now picking at table food is ready for no more bottles. They will dehydrate and starve, slowly dying as opposed to growing double in size in the next two weeks.
If you use water bottles you will know when they are starting to wean as the water bottle will be empty a lot more often.
I would suggest writing down birth dates and weaning at 4 wks.
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Sonya

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