Rats are in labor!

**Rue** · 08-01-2010, 03:25 PM

I know Demjor produces his own snake food...I was just joking a bit...

**Red** · 08-01-2010, 03:47 PM

I found it funny rue, dont worry :p

**Wild Turkey** · 08-01-2010, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by Rue

I know Demjor produces his own snake food...I was just joking a bit...

I know you were joking, just used your joke as a jumping off point. Hope you didnt mind :)

**Michael Milligan** · 08-01-2010, 07:27 PM

In-breeding and breeding are the same thing with most domestic animals. I don't imagine that it has that much to do with the rejection of the babies, however. I would lean towards it being that it's a young rats first litter. Can't really use the first litter as a measure of much.

As for growing rat food v. pets, I imagine that one is likely to get more premature deaths from heart problems in them as well as any number of other genetic problems. That said, how much more prominent these problems can be? depends on the breeding pair. If they are standard, generic pet store rats then likely nothing... but, like said above, any special breed is a lot farther down the path and I'm sure if you as a rat breeder, there a are health and or breeding problems with most of these breeds.

So, like dogs, the best pets are mutts! They just live longer healthier lives generally.

But who cares... still borns still make rat food! (yes, I am an evil heartless person).

**Demjor19** · 08-02-2010, 03:48 AM

Originally Posted by Wild Turkey

Firstly, congrats!

Its the most important question imo, followed closely by "why are they breeding in the first place?"

Imho you should use them as snake food and separate your males from your females permanently unless you have quite a few snakes. Home bred rats are not suitable for pets in most cases, its further inbreeding a bloodline that most likely already has inbreeding problems. Its possible it has something to do with the rejection as well.

If you want to breed rats for pets, its best to start with rats from different, reputable sources. "Pure bred" rats such as hairless or dumbo have common rats bred back into the bloodline to counter-act poor genes and health than can occur from these practices.

Sorry to be somewhat critical on a celebratory thread.

Every one of my rats are from different bloodlines. The rejection was more than likely due to her being a first time mother.

**Wild Turkey** · 08-02-2010, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Demjor19

Every one of my rats are from different bloodlines. The rejection was more than likely due to her being a first time mother.

Good on you in that case. Most people dont put so much forethought into it.

If they have a decent bloodline you could probably make some of your investment back. No need to give away better stock than can be found locally imo.

**Rue** · 08-02-2010, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by Wild Turkey

I know you were joking, just used your joke as a jumping off point. Hope you didnt mind :)

I don't mind...

**Demjor19** · 08-02-2010, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Wild Turkey

Good on you in that case. Most people dont put so much forethought into it.

If they have a decent bloodline you could probably make some of your investment back. No need to give away better stock than can be found locally imo.

Our intentions are to take some of them as snake food and rehome the more fancy ones (not looking to make money off of them). These rats have had zero health issues so far, but there could always be something lurking. If I find out that I am passing on bad genes...I have a simple solution for that.

Our second female (she's a mutt as was the father) has yet to give birth. We thought she was going saturday night, but she never did. This is also a first time mother, so we hope she gets it right.