PDA

View Full Version : Rat problems

Strutter769
04-12-12, 11:08 AM
Not sure really what's happening with my rats. We have 3.7 (2 are pregnant, one of which we believe gas an ear infection, due to the head tilt) and in the last two weeks we've lost 1.1.

Should I treat them all for ear infections (any idea of cost?), or euthanize and start a new colony?

Thanks!
KORBIN5895
04-12-12, 11:24 AM
How are you housing them and how old are they?
Strutter769
04-12-12, 11:31 AM
In Rubbermaid tubs, separated by gender. Aspen shavings. None older than 5 months.
Snakefood
04-12-12, 11:36 AM
head tilting can also be neurological
Strutter769
04-12-12, 11:38 AM
head tilting can also be neurological

Point in case. With such a small collection, would it not be wise to start over? Show of hands please .... jk
KORBIN5895
04-12-12, 11:38 AM
One male can service all of those females. As for the head tilt it could be something wrong in the head. My local pet store had a shipment come in like that and they had aneurisms.
KORBIN5895
04-12-12, 11:39 AM
Just start over if the problems persist for the next two weeks.
Snakefood
04-12-12, 11:41 AM
neurological issues can be genetically inherited, so it depends how many of these breeders are related to the one who is exhibiting the behavior. You may only have to cull that specific line.

But if the whole colony is related, being so small, you may just want to start all over.
Strutter769
04-12-12, 11:57 AM
neurological issues can be genetically inherited, so it depends how many of these breeders are related to the one who is exhibiting the behavior. You may only have to cull that specific line.

But if the whole colony is related, being so small, you may just want to start all over.

We just lost our oldest male breeder. They are not all related, but some are. We used a minimum of 3 males.
Snakefood
04-12-12, 12:09 PM
trace the line of head titlers, cull them. Keep the rest, that's what I'd do.

It is probably neurological rather than an ear infection. Ear infections smell yeasty, and there will be blk/brn waxy guck in the infected ear. If their ears are nice and pink, then it's neuro
exwizard
04-12-12, 03:50 PM
head tilting can also be neurological Thats what Im thinking as well. We do have the occasional "neuro" rat and we never use these for breeders, They go ASAP as snake food.
Strutter769
04-14-12, 04:51 PM
Thank you one and all. (Who writes this stuff?)