Rats

[presspirate]

So, about a week ago, a girl I work with offered me her pet rat. Not to be used as food. Being unable to resist an unwanted pet, I said yes and brought her home later in the week. Being, that rats are communal animals, we felt bad for her and picked up a friend for her over the weekend.
Today, one of my neighbors found out we had pet rats and offered me his sons male, complete with cage. So, once again, being unable to resist a needy pet, I said yes. So, now we find ourselves with 3 rats, 2 females and a male in 2 separate cages. I am open to any advice regarding the best possible diet for them. Thanks!
This is Bella the first arrival.

[presspirate]

The big guy in the cage is Jabba, and the little girl is our yet unnamed female.

[Snakefood]

Kaytee Forti-diet rat blocks, I think Hagen makes them too. They are pre-formed food blocks so they can't pick and choose what they"like".

Of course fresh veg and fruit with low water content, ie: apples, carrots, squash, ect (not things like head lettuce, celery, cucumber as these can lead to diahrea), dried fruits, nuts ect are really nice treats.

[shaunyboy]

cool additions to your collection greg

are you going to be breeding feeders from them mate ? ( just being nosey )

cheers shaun

[Gungirl]

I love rats.. always so cute!

[infernalis]

The perfect ratio to breed snake food.

I feed Kaytee feed, Wal Mart $3 for a five pound bag.

[presspirate]

Thanks folks for the advice. I'll most likely be supplementing their food with fruits and veggies. I read somewhere that their diet should not consist of mainly corn. Also, I read that cooked beef liver and canned oysters are very good for them.
Shaun and Wayne, I am considering breeding them, but I want to watch them awhile to make sure they are healthy enough first.:crazy2:

[Snakefood]

No ones diet should consist mainly of corn!!LOL!!

anything high in protien and iron (liver and oysters) are great for them as a treat, but don't overdo it!! Also they are Awesome supplements for a pregnant and nursing female.

[Little Wise Owl]

I read somewhere that their diet should not consist of mainly corn.

"Dried corn can contain high levels of fungal contaminates which has been shown to cause liver cancer in rats. Corn also contains high levels of both nitrates and amines. These two compounds can combine in the stomach to form nitrosamines which are carcinogenic....... Some fresh corn is fine, but if you feed your rats blocks, try to avoid brands which have corn as the first ingredient." - the Rat Report (http://ratfanclub.org/diet.html)

The Rat Fan Club is amazing for rat care information. Also, I've read that Innova Senior Dog food is a good staple (along with vegetables, fruits and such). It doesn't contain any corn.

[presspirate]

[I]
The Rat Fan Club is amazing for rat care information. Also, I've read that Innova Senior Dog food is a good staple (along with vegetables, fruits and such). It doesn't contain any corn.

Thanks for that, I'll check into it.

[Snakefood]

many of the high quality dog and cat foods contain no corn or wheat, but contains healthy grains like barley, oats, ect....

I mix a high quality puppy food into the mix for pregnant and nursing does, so far no health problems, no still borns, and no deaths (not caused by me of course) in litters that number on average 12-14.

[marvelfreak]

Cool looking Rats. 1 male + 2 female = Twice the nagging. Poor guy. lol

[presspirate]

Thanks Snakefood. Any breeding advice?

[Snakefood]

I use a colony cage large enough for my entire breeding colony (10 females plus 1 male) and have a rack system for brood boxes. When a female starts to look pregnant, they get their own brood box and the supplemented mix of food (high protien and fat) The female stays in the brood box until the pups are the size I need or 4 weeks old, then she goes back up into the colony cage to start over again.

If, when you start up, you stagger when the females are introduced to the colony cage (and the male) then you can plan to have different litters at different stages of development at the same time.

Female rats have a 5 day cycle, so you pretty much KNOW that if male and female have been together for 7 days or more, she is pregnant!! Also, they go back into heat the same day they give birth, and if left with the male will be pregnant again the day of birth, which only works out if you are culling at the pinkie or fuzzy level.

A female is pregnant for 21 days and will have weaned her babies to an independant level by 4 weeks old.

Any other questions, just ask!! You have been very helpful to me in my new world of snake ownership, it is nice to be able return the favor with something that I am experienced with!!

[presspirate]

Great info! You ought to put together a rat care and breeding sheet and have it stickied.:yes:

[Gungirl]

Great info! You ought to put together a rat care and breeding sheet and have it stickied.:yes:

I second this.. with all the snakes around here I know a lot of people want to start breeding rats. a stickie would be a great idea and a lot of help!

[Snakefood]

I guess I could put one together fairly easily and quickly, I've been breeding rodents and rabbits for so long it is like second nature to me!!

Do I send a copy to wayne after it's done?

[presspirate]

Post it withe title of rat care and breeding sheet, pm Wayne, and see if he will sticky it.

[shaunyboy]

"Dried corn can contain high levels of fungal contaminates which has been shown to cause liver cancer in rats. Corn also contains high levels of both nitrates and amines. These two compounds can combine in the stomach to form nitrosamines which are carcinogenic....... Some fresh corn is fine, but if you feed your rats blocks, try to avoid brands which have corn as the first ingredient." - the Rat Report (http://ratfanclub.org/diet.html)

The Rat Fan Club is amazing for rat care information. Also, I've read that Innova Senior Dog food is a good staple (along with vegetables, fruits and such). It doesn't contain any corn.


great information

thanks for sharing

cheers shaun

[presspirate]

great information

thanks for sharing

cheers shaun

Going to raise some snake food Shauny?

[Snakefood]

ok the thread is up, haven't PM'd Wayne yet, but I will.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-discussion/88377-rat-care-breeding-sheet.html#post634284

[presspirate]

So, I now find myself with 6 rats. They are such fun little mammals. I guess it's time to look into breeding them. I have 3 males and 3 females.

[Jenn_06]

breeding rats are so easy and fun i hope i can start to breed rabbits here soon i hear its as easy as rats.(will soon find out)

[Snakefood]

You have the makings of a fine colony or 2!! Why buy your snakefood when you have the means to provide it right there!!

Jenn~ it is about the same as breeding rats, you cannot keep a pair together. Rabbits are definately solitary animals. The great thing about them though is there is no estrus cycle to worry about. Sexual intercourse causes the the female to drop her eggs, but it takes 8-10 hrs before the eggs are decended enough to be fertilized and implanted. So, what you do is put the female in the males pen (never the other way around) in the morning (only takes a couple minutes) and then put her back into his pen in the evening 8-10 hours later. This method practically garauntees a pregnancy~!

[RegenerationRep]

I've bred rabbits before, not for food though. Its very easy. Baby rabbits make a great lunch for just about everything.

[presspirate]

My 3 girls sleeping off their Christmas treat.