Rats are NOT breeding.

[Skits]

I've had my rats since March 10th I believe, and they still haven't bred? :confused: I'm not sure if I should let them be and wait, or if I should get another male or female?

They live in a decent sized rabbit cage, aspen wood chips, are fed a mix of rat and hamster food. They do have a hammock and a house though, I thought maybe thats getting in the way of them doing their business but I feel bad taking it out. Suggestions? :sad:

[exwizard]

it starts off slow but as soon as the first litter happens the others are quickly to follow.

[KORBIN5895]

How old are they?

[Snakefood]

^^^^ very important, if the female is close to or over 18 mos, she has probably already gone thru menopause.

[Skits]

They are both still young. Not sure how old but a few months old for sure.

[Snakefood]

well when I have problem (0 litter count in 2 mos!!) I replace the male first. If it's his problem, your females should be preggers within 25 days of being put together with a different male (IME)

BTW, in my colonies, so far the male was the problem (infertile) in about 90% of the cases.

[Skits]

Alright so I'll wait another week and take out the male if nothing happens. I'll have to rehome him because I don't have the guts to kill him. :hmm:

[Snakefood]

sorry, correction. Females should be visibly preggers or given birth within 25 days of being put with a male. (5 day estrus cycle, 19-21 day pregnancy)

[Gungirl]

Alright so I'll wait another week and take out the male if nothing happens. I'll have to rehome him because I don't have the guts to kill him. :hmm:

So you don't have the guts to cull your male but you want to breed? Do you feed live? or if not how will you cull the rats to feed your snakes?

[Kingsnakechris]

How many snakes do you have? You could possibly try multiple male/female pairs but if you only have a few snakes it might e a problem if they all end up breeding.. I don't have a colony but just thinking of ways that could help.

[exwizard]

So you don't have the guts to cull your male but you want to breed? Do you feed live? or if not how will you cull the rats to feed your snakes?

Im curious to know the answer to this.

[hellosugaree]

Alright so I'll wait another week and take out the male if nothing happens. I'll have to rehome him because I don't have the guts to kill him. :hmm:

Aren't you breeding them for food? Then feed him to something. Consider it rehoming him to a snake's belly. You're going to have a lot of rats very quickly once they start breeding if you aren't able to kill them. I understand though. I always feel bad killing stuff. It never really gets easy even if you do it all the time.

[KORBIN5895]

I can pm you the best method I have found.

[Skits]

It's that I bought him for breeding intentions, and I would feel horrible killing him just because he isn't impregnating the female. Maybe also because I bonded to him and named him. It's a weird way to think of it. I'm just capable of killing the babies, but not adults for some dumb reason.

I have 8 snakes currently, but am planning on getting more in the next couple months so I might just get another breeding pair. I have a few animals that would also take rats so I wouldn't mind having extras.

And I don't feed live either, I don't think I'd mind feeding live (ironically) if they were to die quickly, but just not after I've sort of bonded with them. Maybe if he bites me one day I'll feel differently haha :p

And I'm planning on gassing them, I had made a thread about it a while back.

[Snakefood]

I occasionally bond with a breeder, it has happened twice in my breeding carreer, both with female rats.

For the occassional one I bond with, After they are taken out of breeding rotation, they come inside as a "pet" for the rest of thier natural lives. With a big breeder colony, you don't have time to bond with very many!! But you do with some!!

I have 2 females about to be taken out of rotation, one is being culled and "Kaluha" is coming inside as a pet until she expires naturally!! I can't help it, I love her!!

[Gungirl]

To me they are all food.. No trouble culling them. It is just what I have them for. If mine don't make babies they are in the freezer when the next batch gets culled. I don't bond to them at all. I guess that kind of goes with my hunting background. I am ok doing what I do to get a chance to eat what I eat. I see it no different for my snakes.

[Snakefood]

To me they are all food.. No trouble culling them. It is just what I have them for. If mine don't make babies they are in the freezer when the next batch gets culled. I don't bond to them at all. I guess that kind of goes with my hunting background. I am ok doing what I do to get a chance to eat what I eat. I see it no different for my snakes.

Naw, just different personalities!! I hunt too. I was raised on a farm and by a hunter, then I married a hunter!! But I still "attach" to a certain animal once in a blue moon. Living the farm life we have one easy rule, the ones we name, we keep. all the others are named "dinner":rolleyes:

[hellosugaree]

Living the farm life we have one easy rule, the ones we name, we keep. all the others are named "dinner":rolleyes:

I love it.

[mykee]

How heavy is the female?

[KORBIN5895]

You should never ask a lady's weight, mykee!

[Snakefood]

come on Korbin, we all know tact is not Mykee's strong suit!!:p

[mykee]

Re-tards.
Female rats become sexually mature at ~200g.

[Lankyrob]

Mykee, could you please refrain from using the R word? It is extremely offensive and totally unnecessary, Thanks :)

[Snakefood]

Re-tards.
Female rats become sexually mature at ~200g.

SOMEONE left thier sense of humor in bed this morning!!! Maybe you should go shake out the sheets and see if you can find it again:rolleyes:

[Gungirl]

tNaw, just different personalities!! I hunt too. I was raised on a farm and by a hunter, then I married a hunter!! But I still "attach" to a certain animal once in a blue moon. Living he farm life we have one easy rule, the ones we name, we keep. all the others are named "dinner":rolleyes:

Right now we have 1 male and 2 females. My son named them all, Breakfast, lunch and dinner. He calls the babies snacks.:yes:

[Snakefood]

LOL!! my mom started naming chickens one day when she was out visiting, I asked her if she wanted me to tell her the name of who she was eating!! So she named 2 and left the rest alone, I will keep the 2.

BUT... she REALLY wants to kill my rooster!!

[mykee]

Lanky: are we now elevating the "R" word to the same no-no level as the "F" word and the "C" word?! Thats' re-tarded!
MEH. All this hyper-sensitive politically correct stuff makes my brain hurt.

I'm so stressed now, I'm going to go smoke a fag...
Or does smoking offend people too?

[Skits]

I'll find my grams scale and weigh her later. :)

I was going to cull him but my dad gave me a speech about why I shouldn't and told me to rehome him..but since my dad doesn't pay much attention to the rats, maybe I can cull him in a few weeks without him knowing if he won't breed.

I'll be picking up another breeding pair this weekend though and keep a few females from those litters to breed them as well and start a little colony. :)

[Snakefood]

Lanky: are we now elevating the "R" word to the same no-no level as the "F" word and the "C" word?! Thats' re-tarded!
MEH. All this hyper-sensitive politically correct stuff makes my brain hurt.

Actually Mykee, the request not to use that word on this site is straight from Wayne, as many of us have special needs children and it can be offensive to see that term used in such a way (I know you're not saying anything about our children, just that is the reason Wayne gave when asking people stop using that word on ssnakess)

I'm so stressed now, I'm going to go smoke a fag...
Or does smoking offend people too?

well it certainly offended the Dr. I had to see at emerg last night!! Dear Lord...the lecture I got!!

[mykee]

'nuff said.
I'm not even a smoker, just figured if I had offended a few people, I might as well go whole hog.
Hope that doesn't offend the vegetarians...
I kid, I kid...

[Snakefood]

Found your sense of humor again, did ya??;)

[Lankyrob]

Lanky: are we now elevating the "R" word to the same no-no level as the "F" word and the "C" word?! Thats' re-tarded!
MEH. All this hyper-sensitive politically correct stuff makes my brain hurt.

I'm so stressed now, I'm going to go smoke a fag...
Or does smoking offend people too?

Snakefood already responded to this, but i would just like to say that whilst i agree political correctness has gone too far in a lot of cases unfortunately some words have been used to often in an offensive and rude way that it will be many years before they are incorporated back into day to day language.

[mykee]

He he he...
Whilst smoking a fag, and helping my neighbour repair his dyke, we took a break to drink some homo milk. I mentioned to him that his c()ck woke me at the crack of dawn. It was getting cool so I put on my dickie. He liked the colour. His pussy walked by, carrying a rat in its mouth and I mentioned to him that my bitch was in heat and I was keeping her indoors. He mentioned his a$$ was lame. Great day.

[exwizard]

That is so funny. Youre great, Mykee. :)

[CK SandBoas]

He he he...
Whilst smoking a fag, and helping my neighbour repair his dyke, we took a break to drink some homo milk. I mentioned to him that his c()ck woke me at the crack of dawn. It was getting cool so I put on my dickie. He liked the colour. His pussy walked by, carrying a rat in its mouth and I mentioned to him that my bitch was in heat and I was keeping her indoors. He mentioned his a$$ was lame. Great day.


LMAO!!! :laugh: This made my night!

(Yes, you can say it, i'm pathetic, and i have no life.......)

[Snakefood]

Bravo Mykee!!! LOL

[KORBIN5895]

He he he...
Whilst smoking a fag, and helping my neighbour repair his dyke, we took a break to drink some homo milk. I mentioned to him that his c()ck woke me at the crack of dawn. It was getting cool so I put on my dickie. He liked the colour. His pussy walked by, carrying a rat in its mouth and I mentioned to him that my bitch was in heat and I was keeping her indoors. He mentioned his a$$ was lame. Great day.

Shouldn't it be hen hen hen?

[mykee]

Don't be a rooster, Kevin!

[alessia55]

'nuff said.
I'm not even a smoker, just figured if I had offended a few people, I might as well go whole hog.
Hope that doesn't offend the vegetarians...
I kid, I kid...

:eek:
.................. :p

[mykee]

"Hope that doesn't offend the vegetarians..."
It's not like they would have enough energy to actually do anything about it...

[Snakefood]

oh, don't start on that CRAP again!!! :p