How many rats is too many for one mom?
- Thread starter fishcitizen
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emerson
Well-Known Member
I'm not really sure...rats can have like 17 babies at once, it's crazy. Most litters I have seen are about 12. 4 months old is very young for a rat to have babies though, my little 4 month old girl is still super tiny compared to the grown girls, and has so much more growing to do yet. It would definitely be very irresponsible to breed a rat that young. Can I ask why you are asking?
lilspaz68
Well-Known Member
my newest little rescue mom was just a baby on her first heat when she became pregnant. She was probably 9 weeks old at the time of the birth and she handled 8 babies just fine. 
My 4 monther rescue handled her 13 babies fine, but lost a lot of condition at the end.
My 4 monther rescue handled her 13 babies fine, but lost a lot of condition at the end.
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
Each rat is different some can handle more some are too weak.
Jani had a litter of 18 but only 10 survived. Was it due to sick babies or mom not being able to handle that many, we will never know.
Jani had a litter of 18 but only 10 survived. Was it due to sick babies or mom not being able to handle that many, we will never know.
SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
Rats can have up to 26 in a litter.
Depends on the rat but regardless of the litter size it takes a lot out of the mom.
I have heard of rats with very large litters that did well. The rat divided her babies into two groups in the cage and went back and forth between both grouos caring for them and nursing them. Because they were divided like that, all babies were able to get a nipple to nurse from.
Why do you ask?
If a rat has a large litter you do the best you can to give her the support and care she needs in terms of diet etc.
Depends on the rat but regardless of the litter size it takes a lot out of the mom.
I have heard of rats with very large litters that did well. The rat divided her babies into two groups in the cage and went back and forth between both grouos caring for them and nursing them. Because they were divided like that, all babies were able to get a nipple to nurse from.
Why do you ask?
If a rat has a large litter you do the best you can to give her the support and care she needs in terms of diet etc.
fishcitizen
Active Member
Well, my four monther just had 16 babies.
I didn't plan this, of coarse, it is a long story.
I was just wondering if there was a way I could help her, she seems streesed.
I have her on a proper diet and such.
Separated her from her cage mates.
She keeps leaving her babies everywhere though...
I am kinda worried, but I just keep putting them back.
I didn't plan this, of coarse, it is a long story.
I was just wondering if there was a way I could help her, she seems streesed.
I have her on a proper diet and such.
Separated her from her cage mates.
She keeps leaving her babies everywhere though...
I am kinda worried, but I just keep putting them back.
littledevils
Well-Known Member
So fishcitizen
How is the "feral" agouti girl doing you were posting about under a different username?
How is the "feral" agouti girl doing you were posting about under a different username?
fishcitizen
Active Member
Like I said, I don't know what your talking about.
All of my rats are well tamed.
All of my rats are well tamed.
SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
Now you are claiming to have 4 litters?
You must be extremely irresponsible or just playing more head games with us.
You must be extremely irresponsible or just playing more head games with us.
fishcitizen
Active Member
No I said that the mother is four months, I ONLY HAVE ONE LITTER.
SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
fishcitizen said:
Thought you ment 4th mother, not 4 month old rat.
emerson
Well-Known Member
SQ, I think she meant four MONTHer. How did she get pregnant? Do you have an intact male in your care as well?SQ said:
fishcitizen
Active Member
Yes, five actually.
I was away for a week and my family was looking after them, when I came backeverything seemed fine. Until Kasey started to act wierd then started putting on weight.
So I moved her to her own cage and soon after she had 16 babies.
I was away for a week and my family was looking after them, when I came backeverything seemed fine. Until Kasey started to act wierd then started putting on weight.
So I moved her to her own cage and soon after she had 16 babies.
emerson
Well-Known Member
It's not a good idea to have intact males and females in the same house, accidents are bound to happen. Also, Kasey shouldn't be by herself, she needs a friend. Maybe keep a female from the litter for her.
fishcitizen
Active Member
emerson said:
Do you even know how to read?
I just said she has three cagemates that she will return to when the litter is grown up.
Why even comment if your didn't read what I said in the first place.
Gee, silly!
ryelle
Well-Known Member
HOLLLD ON A MINUTE!
Where did you say that she had three cagemates? There is no need to get arsey over this. People give that advice out to ANYBODY, so dont get on your high horse.
Did you aquire 3 intact males in the... two hours it took you to edit that post? It originally said two...
Where did you say that she had three cagemates? There is no need to get arsey over this. People give that advice out to ANYBODY, so dont get on your high horse.
fishcitizen said:
Did you aquire 3 intact males in the... two hours it took you to edit that post? It originally said two...
fishcitizen
Active Member
You know what? I am sorry I posted the Q in the first place.
I didn't ask for all this uneeded advice that has nothing to do with the question I asked.
No offense, but you people seem to jump the gun a bit.
Very assumptive you are.
I didn't ask for all this uneeded advice that has nothing to do with the question I asked.
No offense, but you people seem to jump the gun a bit.
Very assumptive you are.
lilangel
Well-Known Member
ryelle said:
she posted in her other topic that she had cagemates witch her other topic is linked from her to there. she did not state how many but just said other cagemates so if we did read the thread you would have seen she did say she had cagemates
in no way do i know this person or anything just wanted to point out she did say what she said.
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
It is in our nature to help educate... and one way is to always push for keeping only one sex in the home because accidents can happen as you are well aware of.
Also, we've had an unpleasant experience with viasindios... who in turn became very childish and posted a very inappropriate video on a pet rat forum. We also have cause to believe that you may very well be or know this person... you are most certainly from the same area.
We will try and give you the benefit of the doubt...
Also, we've had an unpleasant experience with viasindios... who in turn became very childish and posted a very inappropriate video on a pet rat forum. We also have cause to believe that you may very well be or know this person... you are most certainly from the same area.
We will try and give you the benefit of the doubt...
ryelle
Well-Known Member
I had a feeling the other thread would have been mentioned, but it wasnt mentioned on this one, and keeping track of two different posts all at once is just confusing and hard work. And there really wasnt any need for the rude reply to Emerson
