Females To Males: Rats?

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Hello Members,

Im wondering what is the largest amount of female rats I could put in with a male? Thanks. I live in Alberta and cannot legally own live rats and I DO NOT intend on owning any:D.

Chris

[Ian]

Really it depends on what size of cage you plan to keep them in. In a 3x2 I would go with either 1.2 or 1.3.

Cheers
Ian

[mykee]

I wouldn't overwork the males, I've heard of people going as high as 1.5 but personally, I stick with either 1.2 or 1.3

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Is that the biggest ammount? Say i had a cage that was 6ft long, 1.5ft wide, 1 ft high? If i wanted a rack type thing.

[Syco]

I don't know about rats, but I have male mice that take care of 6 females. They don't seem to mind being "overworked" and the litter size is still very good, 12-15 pinks.

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Lol. I know about mice, I have 1.6 but im moving to 1.10 soon. Probably near the end of march im going to have about 120 breeder mice. ok, so one could do 1.3, possibly 1.4 rats per enclosure? Thanks.

Chris

[sapphire_moon]

I had my male in a 1.5 and I have heard that they can "service" 7 females. A 1.2 or 1.3 could stay in something SMALLER than a 3ft long cage.

[Linds]

I run my colonies in jumbo kitty litter pans in numbers of 1.2 - 1.4. I had one spare rubbermaid with 1.5 before, but they weren't as productive.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Ha ha, I have 5 40-gallon aquariums, each with 1.25 mice in it. I get HUNDREDS of pinkies every week in each cage. Its nuts.

[Linds]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
Ha ha, I have 5 40-gallon aquariums, each with 1.25 mice in it. I get HUNDREDS of pinkies every week in each cage. Its nuts.

Mice seem to be able to handle higher number than rats do, from my own experiences and everything I've heard from others. I've never heard of anyone running their males with more than 15 - 20 females though... crazy stuff. Those are some happy boys...lol :p

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Ok, thanks everyone. So I understand it would be best to go with 1.3? Thanks. BTW, I am looking for plans on what i want to do as soon as i move out from under my parents roof! LOL. Still about 5 years to go though.