Seperating rat babies from the colony

jwd · 09-07-05, 08:13 AM

Just wondering if there is any truth that the adults will eat the babies? Should we be seperating the babies from the colony? And at what point? If any? We have heard so many stories that we dont know what is true and what is false. I have been researching and have not found any definitive answers on this. Any direction would truly be appreciated,
jd

impy · 09-07-05, 08:56 AM

hello yes the adults (males) will eat the babys. most people will take the female out of the breeding cage when u notice she is graved and put her in a seperate cage. also that way she will have a cooling down period after giving birth

hope this helps
lindsay

Shad0w · 09-07-05, 09:08 AM

Ive heard both sides of the story, but Ive got to say with my breeding colonies, I keep the males with the females and babies at all times and have never had a problem with the males or females eating babies

Shad0w · 09-07-05, 09:39 AM

Might I also suggest that you retire any rat that consistently eats babies...
I know many rat breeders do this.

sapphire_moon · 09-11-05, 12:16 AM

if the female continously eats the babies, get rid of her and any babies she had. You don't want the same characteristis to show up in her daughters.

You can leave the males in, it would be better for getting the most feeders out of your colony. Males usually help with the care of the babies. I have NEVER had a male eat the babies, it was usually the females.

Bartman · 09-14-05, 01:26 AM

I had a female eat her babies once and it was because she ran out of food for 2 days. Won't let happen this time around

sapphire_moon · 09-14-05, 01:28 AM

how can you have healthy feeders (and so a healthy reptile) if you don't take care of the breeders/feeders?

Bartman · 09-14-05, 01:33 AM

If you're asking me, I was out of town and thought the food would last the 2 days. It also happened a year ago.

CamHanna · 10-09-05, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sapphire_moon

how can you have healthy feeders (and so a healthy reptile) if you don't take care of the breeders/feeders?

I've heard of more than a few people who "fast" small feeders prior to feeding to reduce fat content. Wild snakes would eat occasionally the sickly, starving critters anyways. Not that that's any excuse to neglect your feeders.

TessMillerDT · 12-07-05, 10:59 AM

it really isn't a good idea to keep males with females and offspring. Females go into heat 48 hours after they deliver, and it's very easy for them to concieve. However if they concieve that quickly, they have a chance of losing lactation, and having the first litter die offf. Not to mention the second litter will be very small and likely unhealthy.

NocturnalBC · 12-07-05, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TessMillerDT

it really isn't a good idea to keep males with females and offspring. Females go into heat 48 hours after they deliver, and it's very easy for them to concieve. However if they concieve that quickly, they have a chance of losing lactation, and having the first litter die offf. Not to mention the second litter will be very small and likely unhealthy.

WOW! Where the hell did you come up with this crap? ...unbelievable!

Anyway, I'm guessing you have never bred feeders and are just repeating the garbage you've read online.
The only time you will have a problem with cannibalism is when you have more then one adult male in a cage, most males will kill off anothers babies probably to kill the gene line I'm guessing. They will also cannibalis when you introduce another feeder to the colony that is not part of the line, mice and rats are funny about new members especially when there are babies in the cage. I never remove the male and have never had a problem, infact the males help out alot with the care of babies. It's normal for a mothers 1st litter to be eaten but if it continues to the 2nd then it may be genetic and it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to start with a whole new set of breeders. I wouldn't worry about leaving the male in at all.