Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, I'm trying to breed my own rats, and I have a few questions:

1) Is a Large rat too old to breed?

2) Would I see them boinking? Cause there's been no action. Unless they do it exclusivly when I'm sleeping, lol.

3) Is there a way to coerce them to breed?

4) Do females need nesting materials? And should I avoid cleaning the area directly around the babies at first?

5) If a female gives birth before the others, should I be concerned for her babies, ie moving them to the other cage(with her, of course)?

Yeah. I don't know rats as well as snakes, so if anyone has any extra info, shoot.
-----


-Irish
Email: animistdragon@sbcglobal.net
AIM: VoodooDragon137
YIM: [same as Email addy]
3.3.1 Ball Pythons

>>1) Is a Large rat too old to breed?

Probably not.

>>2) Would I see them boinking? Cause there's been no action. Unless they do it exclusivly when I'm sleeping, lol.

I never have, besides thats not polite.

>>3) Is there a way to coerce them to breed?

Don't bother, they're rodents, it's what they do.

>>4) Do females need nesting materials? And should I avoid cleaning the area directly around the babies at first?

Not nessecary, though some folks do provide boxes and nesting material. You might want to let the moms settle down for a day after their first litter before you clean, but after that it generally not an issue.

>>5) If a female gives birth before the others, should I be concerned for her babies, ie moving them to the other cage(with her, of course)?

I've never had a problem with cannablism. Some times I seperate the second litter. Rats nurse communially and sometimes I think the second litter doesn't get their share, especially if they are more than a couple of days apart.

>>Yeah. I don't know rats as well as snakes, so if anyone has any extra info, shoot.
Check out my reply to qtkitty 6/28/03.

Good luck, have fun, and tell us how it goes.

DeMak

>>So, I'm trying to breed my own rats, and I have a few questions:
>>
>>1) Is a Large rat too old to breed?

Possibly. I don't usually recommend getting more than mediums. You will get action more quickly than with larges...that may be beyond a good age to get big litters for very long.
>>
>>2) Would I see them boinking? Cause there's been no action. Unless they do it exclusivly when I'm sleeping, lol.

I usually do but I also, if I am in a hurry or when I was breeding for color/ears/whatever....toss the girl in with the boy and watch for a few minutes. A 'real' man rat will have them bred in half an hour. But usually for feeders you can toss him in with 3 or 4 girls and let him take his time. BTW you may not see the 'action' other than him checking himself (literally) once he has gotten one of the girls.
>>
>>3) Is there a way to coerce them to breed?

Not really. If your boy isn't doing the job or is too much a gentleman to get the job done than replace him.

>>
>>4) Do females need nesting materials? And should I avoid cleaning the area directly around the babies at first?
>>
I give them a couple squares of paper towel and then change it the day after birth so that it is all lemony fresh and not bloody from birth. You don't gotta give them anything but you can get a feel for it.

>>5) If a female gives birth before the others, should I be concerned for her babies, ie moving them to the other cage(with her, of course)?

Worse I have is a selfish mom that snatches the other babys and hordes them. Then I divide them back up and she does it again. You can deal with it as you like. I get pig headed sometimes and just keep giving some to the other mom(s) and in a day or two they get it. Or some moms will heap them all together and take turns feeding. With rats you won't see the cannabalism you get with mice.
>>
-----
Sonya