is this safe?????

[letters]

Is it safe to keep our male rat with our female rat right after birth???

[CamHanna]

Yes it is safe.

The female goes into heat right after birth and will be re-bred. If you're trying to super-produce then that's fine but if you're trying to take it easy on her she'll just knocked up again and wear herself out sooner.

Make sure that your enclosure's big enough that the little'uns don't get trampled.

[letters]

he won't hurt the babies?// she's in a 10 gallon.

[letters]

well , we just put him in and she tried to kill him.

[CamHanna]

No, rat daddies are good people and shouldn't eat the babies or anything like that. 10 gallons should be enough space. If you want to be sure then you can give her some kind of a nest box in the enclosure but that shouldn't be necessary.

Cam

[CamHanna]

well , we just put him in and she tried to kill him.
I've never had that problem before. Were they perhaps a little rowdy in the courtship? Did you seperate them?

[marisa]

When you try to add to a colony thats about ot have babies or just had them, that's what happens.

You need to establish it first. If you have a male and female (female NOT pregnant) and house them together and continue doing so, even afte r giving birth, things should be fine.

Marisa

[CamHanna]

Sorry, I didn't relize that they had been seperated for any real length of time. Out of curiousity, how long were the male and female apart?

[letters]

it's the same male that courted with her, we just sperated them the last week or so...so is that our mistake?

[CamHanna]

I'd have thought they'd be fine after a week but if they're not then I guess they're not. No harm done, just house them seperatly for a while I guess.

[letters]

any idea how long?

[CamHanna]

I've never had had the problem before so I can't be sure but I would probably wait until the pups are weaned. Three weeks maybe?

[beanersmysav]

I'd say your best bet is to put her in with him, and then after they do their thing put her back in with her babies, could be wrong but it's an idea

[Mark]

I would just toss him back in. As long as there is no blood you usually are fine. I try not to add/switch males around during current litters but sometimes you can't help it and I've never had a problem. I'd clean the tank and add everyone at once.

Mark

[JDouglas]

I would wait until the next cage cleaning and them put him in. I have had rats fight in the past but for some reason cleaning the cage and reintroducing does the trick.