Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello there,

Hopefully someone will know! I have a mother rat that has a 2-3 week old litter of 13. Before I bred her, she was fat, in good health, active and a light gray color. She is still with her babies, but now she looks emaciated, all boney and isn't as active. She's also now a dark slate color. I keep food in the cage along with a fresh bottle of water every day. I feed her a mixture of grain and lab pellets. Sometimes I toss in dinner leftovers.

Should I separete her from the litter? They appear to eat the grain, and I see them drink from the water bottle. They also still nurse. This is her first litter, and I believe she is only 2 months old. I'm worried about her appearance, she doesn't look too good.

If any one has suggestions, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

>>Hello there,
>>
>>Hopefully someone will know! I have a mother rat that has a 2-3 week old litter of 13. Before I bred her, she was fat, in good health, active and a light gray color. She is still with her babies, but now she looks emaciated, all boney and isn't as active. She's also now a dark slate color. I keep food in the cage along with a fresh bottle of water every day. I feed her a mixture of grain and lab pellets. Sometimes I toss in dinner leftovers.
>>
>>Should I separete her from the litter? They appear to eat the grain, and I see them drink from the water bottle. They also still nurse. This is her first litter, and I believe she is only 2 months old. I'm worried about her appearance, she doesn't look too good.
>>
>>If any one has suggestions, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

At that age the pups are NOT weaned and it will stunt them to wean them early. She, the mom, has a lot drawing on her right now. Up her intake of protein and fat. I would give her oatmeal, cheerios, yogurt, veges and dog and cat food for a bit. Depending on the lab block they may not be enough for her. She is just being a good produceer and putting everything into her pups. Some moms will lose their coats as well.
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Sonya

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

I agree with Sonya, I feed all that extra stuff to my females and they remain fat and rolly after birth with the extra weight and milk, I feed lab blocks fed to horses as a treat but I strongly believe a variety is good especially to mothers. Babies wean 5-6weeks and I pull the babies when i see them eating and drinking on their own, but thats just me. I put in soft foods while the babies are with their mothers, like rice, bread soaked with milk,cooked veges. All my rats love lettuce also that has the carrotts and cabagge. To keep rats teeth down and moms without babies, I put in a T bone or those frozen meat bones used in stews or for dogs chopped into appropriate pieces. Hope this helps and I have had a number of thin moms when i fed them just blocks or cat/dog food, it wasn't enough while nursing and they beefed up after i added in all the rest. Good luck.
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My roomates are2 boas, 4 corns,Rotti,3cats and snake food AKA the food chain.

Thanks for all the replies! Last night I gave her some eggs, oatmeal, collard greens, rice and cheese. She ate a lot more than usual, hopefully in a few days she'll be a lot better (and bigger).

Thanks again!

Aren't rats weaned at 3-4 weeks? I have always separated my baby rats once they reach 4 weeks of age and never had any problems with them being stunted. Mice on the other hand wean between 4-5 weeks.