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Hi all....One of our momma rats is acting very strange with her pups. After she had them (9) she took ALL the bedding in her cage and piled it up into a volcano shape in one corner of her cage. She put the babies in the top and and kept them there. She did this over and over until they opened their eyes. Now she just piles them in a corner without doing the whole volcano thing. But now every time one of the pups strays from the corner, she grabs them and puts them back in the corner. When we clean the cage the pups are very active, playing with tubes and exploring their surroundings. All the while momma is in a separate cage sqeaking real loud and pacing. When we put momma and pups back in clean cage she piles them up in the corner and doesn't let them explore. What's going on??? Our other momma/litter acts nothing like this and there is only 2 days difference between them.

Any advice or suggestions would be great. Thanks!!

It is normal as all the studies have shown, this is their protective nature, some will mound the sawdust ontop of the babies and sufficate them, i've lost too many like this so they get just the fluff stuff, some moms do this while others could care less, like you;ve said. Its irrating as hell when they pile it on them and although you've said she places them ontop, they will soon be at the bottom. I leave very little for them to use until the babies are old enough to be buried like this. But none the less it's normal and yes they get confused when you go in there and clean, the babies scatter no matter who deal with them. When i put mine back at the hopper age i cup them until the settle and it works well. This is the fun time of the litters.
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My roomates are2 boas, 4 corns,Rotti,3cats and snake food AKA the food chain.

>>Hi all....One of our momma rats is acting very strange with her pups. After she had them (9) she took ALL the bedding in her cage and piled it up into a volcano shape in one corner of her cage. She put the babies in the top and and kept them there. She did this over and over until they opened their eyes. Now she just piles them in a corner without doing the whole volcano thing. But now every time one of the pups strays from the corner, she grabs them and puts them back in the corner. When we clean the cage the pups are very active, playing with tubes and exploring their surroundings. All the while momma is in a separate cage sqeaking real loud and pacing. When we put momma and pups back in clean cage she piles them up in the corner and doesn't let them explore. What's going on??? Our other momma/litter acts nothing like this and there is only 2 days difference between them.
>>
>>Any advice or suggestions would be great. Thanks!!

All this is normal mom rat stuff. Some moms are more protective than others. I have rats that will hide babies and bite me if I interfere in the first two weeks and others that bring the babies to me and put them in my hand. I wouldn't worry about it as long as she doesn't leave one pup out by itself. Some moms with bigger litters may split the litter up and have two piles, alternating care between them. Again, normal. You might try offering her a snug box or a 'dish' to settle her nest in. She may use it or just ignore it. I have some moms use a box if I toss the litter into it a couple times and I have had moms use the box as a wall to block off a corner for a nest.
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Sonya

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

Thanks Diggy and Sonya for easing my mind. We did have a saucer type thing in with her for awhile, until she started taking it and putting it upsidedown over the top of the "volcano". We were worried the pups were going to suffocate. Now that they have their eyes open I don't worry as much. But I do worry that some morning we're going to wake up to find she's eaten her babies. Maybe she will mellow with age and future litters. I hope so....I'm starting to become a nervous wreck wondering what she's going to do next!!

Thanks again!

With my rats i can come and go with no problems, the mice i clean the cage before a due date and have another one ready, I use those plastic ones and when one become dirty, place mom and babies with old nesting material in new cage. Mom may panick and take babies out etc, i just let nature take it's course and leave them alone, it's fustrating to see thats for sure, but if the cage is allowed to go for the whole raising session in either rodent the RI sets in and sniffils happen. Right now i have a 10gl with 1.5 and the male wants "some" and there are fights that break out and blood shed, so i took him and two ladies and they are in a plastic container until i see waddle moms then i will rotate other females to him. No fights since.
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My roomates are2 boas, 4 corns,Rotti,3cats and snake food AKA the food chain.