re: rat pups

TeaNinja · 04-23-11, 04:23 AM

figured i'd show a few boredom pics i shot. the rats are a day or two passed a month old now. i split the boys and girls up the other day.
there are 2 boys and 5 girls left. a few of them are decently larger then the others also. there are a few females that are big and the albino is much larger then the hooded male. and that flash REALLY makes his eyes glow.

TeaNinja · 04-23-11, 04:24 AM

mom is the big hooded. i'm going to keep the albino and maybe one of the girl pups also. the rest of the pups will become f/t

dad's having a drink lol

stephanbakir · 04-23-11, 08:49 AM

Grats man.
Quick question, With those plastic bottom tubs, did you ever get chewing on the corners? I always needed to replace mine cuz they chewed through within a year or 2

TeaNinja · 04-23-11, 02:52 PM

the only time i see them chewing is when they climb to the top of the cage and gnaw on the bars of the roof out of boredom lol.

stephanbakir · 04-23-11, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeaNinja

the only time i see them chewing is when they climb to the top of the cage and gnaw on the bars of the roof out of boredom lol.

I thought it was to wear their teeth down?

TeaNinja · 04-23-11, 03:20 PM

i've heard when they chew the bars, they don't even use their teeth. i've heard they gnaw with the space in between their teeth. (honestly don't know if that's true or not lol)

i know their teeth are always growing and they need to chew to keep them small and sharp, but i thought that was what bruxing was for.

TeaNinja · 04-23-11, 03:23 PM

i just read all this on google.

Unlike other rodents that we keep as pets, rats do not always have to gnaw to keep their teeth worn down. They can also accomplish this task by bruxing.

Pet rats do not have the ability to gnaw through metal or cement as is said of their wild cousins. Rats gnaw because they can, it's fun, and it gives them something to do.

You will not have to worry about the metal bars that are being gnawed getting thin and breaking. Gnawing on the bars is not hurting their mouths either. It might look like the rats are chewing but in reality the bar is in a huge toothless space in the rats' mouths and the bar is not making much contact with their teeth. This space is called the diastema.

stephanbakir · 04-23-11, 03:25 PM

Thats really cool, does it have any benefits to the rats besides being...fun?

sassy_snake_lady · 04-23-11, 03:27 PM

Do you not give them any toys? No wonder they get bored

I breed my own feeder mice but part of the idea being that the mice have the best quality of life I can give them before they get eaten!

TeaNinja · 04-23-11, 03:29 PM

probably many reasons. checking for escape routes in the cage, boredom, teeth shortening. also girls are much more active then boys and are said to gnaw much more.

after 6 months boys get fat and lazy and just want to sit around all the time lol.
the dad rat is getting biiig and very lazy lol.

sassy_snake_lady · 04-23-11, 03:30 PM

Sorry, you keep saying boredom. Your rats should not be bored. It's your job to provide them with things to keep them active and happy!

TeaNinja · 04-23-11, 03:32 PM

i take them out all the time and play with them. if you think rats are never bored EVEN WITH toys you are dillusional. they have stuff to chew on all the time yet i still see them gnawing on cage bars every now and then.

i consider them all to have very nice lives.

sassy_snake_lady · 04-23-11, 03:38 PM

Maybe its different over in your part of the word, I dunno. Rat breeders I know keep their rats in 3 even 4 tier cages with tunnels, hammocks, ropes, bell, chews, ladders and multiple nest boxes and hides.

I have also bred rats (as pets not food)

stephanbakir · 04-23-11, 03:38 PM

They are all running the race of life, with the finish line being Co2 or a crack to the back of the neck shortly followed by a freezer or a snakes mouth

sassy_snake_lady · 04-23-11, 03:39 PM

Oh and cute babies by the way

My mice have roduced some gorgeous babies with really cute markings but I must not keep any! They are just food not pets