Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Peter Parrot · Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

Ventilation would have to be provided as that sort of tub would soon become dripping wet with condensation with the warm blooded mammal`s breathing. Females can drop a litter whilst still nursing another no problem, and do all the time in the natural state.

Mixing two batches of unrelated males can be done if young enough, and if done on neutral ground but keep an eye on them initially. If they can smell females they will scrap as they grow.

I don`t breed rats any more but will be again soon as I am moving to somewhere more suitable to do so, but as I seem to remember, I often had problems with multi females pinching each others young which could become a tug of war.

The laboratory type purpose made cage is the ideal type really if you can find any that is, or have a look at this link a friend sent me, although it is American, I am sure that a British version could be built; http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/rat_rack/ratrack.shtml

Scott is the resident expert on rodent production, when he sees this I am sure he will help out. Wink

_________________
YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41

Scott W

Anyway, I'm thinking to start off with - getting 1.3 rats to start the colony.
Now.. I know some people keep them in drawer-type racks which have tubs, I think thats the sort of thing I'm going to try.
So - first off, can I use really useful boxes? If not, what tubs would you recommend? - I'm all clear on how to build the actual rack part, its just the tubs i'm wondering about.

I would recoomend buying a second hand professional rodent bank, prices are around £250 but they are designed to do the job in a humane way so to me that's the best option (I have two available or you can search the classifieds)

On to numbers - I'm thinking of having it as a 5 level rack, 1 tub on each level. 3 females with one tub each to themselves, 1 male rotating between tubs. 1 tub to grow on males, 1 tub to grow on females. Would that work?

If you are rotating males then I would work a different system, go for 6-8 females per cage and each week move fresh male in and take out any pregnant females, these can then be kept singular (most productive) or in groups up to 4 females. Once they have weaned you add them back into the breeding cages.

The main thing I'm wondering about, is with the growing on tubs... say I've got some males in there that are all around 12 weeks old, and I want to add a fresh batch of males into the growing-on tub that are only 5 weeks old... will they be ok together?

If you have LOTS of males then yes, normally they are fine to add more in (clean the cage before you do), males will always 'nip & fight' each other to a degree.

Also, I know that the babies are supposed to be sepparated from their mother after 5 weeks.. but if the mother gets pregnant again straight away, and gestation period is 3 weeks... does it matter if a new litter hatch into a tub where the previous litter are still being weened?

Not a problem, if you keep a pair or trio permantly housed with a male then the females will often drop a second litter before the first is removed, that is fine.

click here for more rat details on systems etc http://www.captivebred.co.uk/rodent_breeding_system.htm
_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

Scott W · Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:44 pm Post subject:

£14

I would supply live rats, either sex at £4 each (these are a PRODUCTIVE strain, not a general pet shop strain)

Min order would have to be 15 rats though.

I'm sure others would supply for that or cheaper, look on the classifieds site (click on forum logo).
_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

Scott W · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 10:12 am Post subject:

All depends on the cage size, also just how productive you want the colony.

The best way to maximise litters is to keep each female seperate for birthing and rearing it's young. I often get litters of 20 from one female that way, if however I put 4-5 females together I don't end up with 80-100 young from that cage, more like 40-50 max.

If space allows I keep my females seperate, when space is tight (ie loads of pregnant females that week) I go up to 5 per cage.
_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

Scott W · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 10:43 am Post subject:

no problems, you'll also find that you may need to 'tweak' any system you use to fit your own routine etc
_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

neep_neep · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:26 am Post subject:

How long do the females get to recover between litters? Smile

_________________
Sophie

Scott W · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:06 am Post subject:

I guess mine get a min of 8 weeks before the next litter is born (ie birth to birth) but to be honest I've never actually calculated.
_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

neep_neep · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:21 am Post subject:

Oh that's good to hear Smile

I had visions of the poor girls having back to back litters every 3 weeks! Sad

Thanks for clarifying! Smile

_________________
Sophie

Peter Parrot · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:44 am Post subject:

Scott W · Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject:

I guess that would make them between 12 - 14 weeks old (from memory).

They should kick in soon, are you sure you haven't missed any first litters? sometimes they will eat their first litter, especially if not seperated from the rest of the group.
_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk