Minimum Temperatures

[Linds]

What's the lowest temp rats can be raised at (babies excluded, weanlings and up)? Just wondering because I am having to make expand my rat accomodations and would prefer to keep them out of my bedroom for now if possible, but the only other place I can think of that has any space is the coldroom in the basement I think the temp is around 50-60 degrees in there. I think it might be ok since you see them running around in barns all winter long, but just wanted to get everyone's opinion

[Gorelith]

it used to be I only knew celcius but now I only know farenheit. As long as they're around room temp, 20C they should be fine, give or take a few degrees.

[snakedude_03]

mine are just in room temp.

[Dom]

Mine are about at 24 degrees .. great productivity but I am quite shure tehy can be raise at fairly low temps .. maybe even as low as 15 but this is a guess ..


although lower temps will probably affect the effectiveness..

[Linds]

I think I may give the coldroom a try and see how that fares... I wont be breeding them in there, only raising them up to size once they are weaned. I keep my breeders in the main part of the basement and they are doing fine there...but I have run out of room there If they seem like they are too cold I will stick them in my room.

[patricia]

10'C = 50'F, 15'C = 59'F, 20'C = 68"F, 25'C = 77'F.

Of all the prey species that we raise, the rats are the least able to withstand the cold. I'd be very cautious about keeping them in a room that may get much cooler than 10'C. If you look at a map of the natural range of the rat, you'll see that there aren't any living wild in the Northwest Territories, or in the northern parts of the provinces.

Rats aren't very good at nest-building. When it gets cold, they just stay exposed and shiver like crazy, and they very quickly develop pneumonia. Baby rats born in a room that is too cool, won't stand a chance of surviving. They can't hibernate. They'll breed, but it will really drain the mama's strength.

The hamsters are the hardiest, they can survive quite well down to below freezing 0'C (32'F). They build very good nests, and then they curl themselves up into tight balls that conserve their body-heat really well. They can and will hibernate below 5'C, and will survive even if it is several degrees below freezing, provided they have good nesting material. Baby hamsters can be born and survive quite well even when their room is in the 5'C-to-10'C range.

Mice are intermediate. They build good nests, like hamsters, and they have some hibernating capability. They'll breed successfully even at temps below 5'C (41'F). Mice are much better at all bunking down together and keeping each other warm than rats are.

[Grant vg]

Not sure if this is correct or not...but it seems like it could be true....
Wouldn't u have to feed them more to sustain body fat on them in colder temps?
Maybe??? i dont know