Reptile & Amphibian Forums

You said in a post below........

/"If you set up young mice you will get action faster than putting adults together."

/"I also wouldn't set up adults, rather grow a group up together. Replace the lost ones with smalls or small mediums, NOT large rats or mice."

I usually set up new breeder pans with 7-8 week old females with a 5-6 week old male. Do you think I might get better production if I start them out together younger?
Just curious what your experience is with starting breeders when young versus adult age.

Thanks.
Tomsey Bitago

>>I usually set up new breeder pans with 7-8 week old females with a 5-6 week old male. Do you think I might get better production if I start them out together younger?
>>Just curious what your experience is with starting breeders when young versus adult age.

If you are talking rats....that is plenty young enough. I have even held a female out of a breeding until 10wks if I didn't think she was done with her 'baby burst' growing.

For mice....if I am creating a whole new group I start with just weaned ones. Otherwise I just let a female hopper stay in an existing group and she will learn to mother from her mom and I see fewer first litter cannabalisms.

I just know some folks think that if they get a medium (12wk rat or so) or a large (who knows how old) that they will be breeding in no time. But they seem to have to reset themselves first. The only time I take in an adult rat for breeding is if she is already pregnant and about to pop.
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Sonya

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