[Comrade_Newski]

I seem to join a new forum for any Pet I have. I joined a Rabbit group when I first got El Ahrairah, now I find a rat forum.... Never did that for my Cat, because I've had cats all my life.


I recently got two Rats, a Brownish/Greyish Male named "Engels" and a Black female I call "Marx". Of course, the Pet Store told me they were both female (and they were still young, so it was admittedly hard for me to tell. Truth is, though, I could tell...). So I guess a trip to the vet is in order.

I'm 22, College Student, Filmmaker, and fan of the Clash. Really don't know what else to say, except I almost named one of the rats "Zombie Joe Strummer". I had a rat when I was young and probably not unable to take proper care of it... It escaped and caused some **** and eventually disappeared. At that point, I had no idea they could take the top off of the cage.

 

[crapola]

welcome!!

 

[Inesita]

Hi there, welcome!

 

[renay]

first of all, welcome. Second of all, if they are older than 5 weeks you may have a problem, you should find a vet asap. I had an accidental litter with the first rats i ever owned, it wasn't pretty, it was very difficult to find them all good homes and i vowed not to send them to an uncertain fate at the pet store... its more complicated than it is fun i assure you.

 

[mopydream44]

its more complicated than it is fun i assure you.

I second that!!!

anyhoo WELCOME TO THE BOARDS!!!!!!

 

[Comrade_Newski]

I have to wait until my next paycheck. Well, next time I get paid (because of my job, I get money coming my way sporadically every week/Few weeks, and it's usually relatively generous). Which I'm told will be anywhere between Thursday or Friday.

But... Why rush them to the vet when you can merely seperate them? I mean, keeping rats in solo cages might not be the best thing but until I get paid and get one of them fixed, really the best thing to do.

And just in case, I'm pretty sure I can handle a litter. I've done so with Mice and Kittens before (and hated it every time, but still).

 

[renay]

well its not so much the fact that you can handle a litter, like i said, finding good homes for them all isn't exactly easy... in my opinion it would be wise to keep them seperated until you have the funds necessary for the opperation, if however your female is already pregnant, there are important things that you will need to know, such as male rats will not kill their babies, but leaving a male with the female he can whats called back breed her... right after the female gives birth she goes into heat once again. Back breeding is not healthy for your rat, a lot of irresponsible breeders do this... Anywayyyy there is much MUCH more you should know if she does prove to be pregnant, and if i were you I would start saving some money in case shes pregnant to, because you'd be surprised how expensive a litter of rats can be if you're going to care for them properly.

 

[Poppyseed]

I would just keep them separated, unless you want to do an e-spay on the female. Generally a rat having a baby really young is hard on the rat but you really don't know if she is pregnate or not.

I would get a gram scale and weigh her everyday. If you are seeing a high gain of weight everyday then she might be pregnate. Of course she will be gaining weight because she is growing as well.

So yeah, just keep them separated and hope they weren't early acheivers is my advice. And get her spayed as soon as possible, or get him neutered. Spaying has many health benefits later down the road as a spay can dramatically reduce the risks of mammary tumors.

Good luck with your new rats! Glad to see you here.

 

[Vixie]

such as male rats will not kill their babies.

Unfortunately, that's untrue. Male rats can and sometimes will commit infanticide. It's rare, but it does happen.

 

[renay]

i've never heard of a male rat killing its babies, although im sure you're right that the odd one will. But when breeding you don't have to worry as much about male rats as you do about say... male rabbits or male hamsters....The irresponsible breeders just leave the male in with the female, while birthing and after birthing in attempts to have the female rebred as quickly as possible, which is not good for her health, just keep that in mind, whether or not your female is pregnant, just seperate them now.

 

[Matt]

hey

 

[Vixie]

i've never heard of a male rat killing its babies, although im sure you're right that the odd one will. But when breeding you don't have to worry as much about male rats as you do about say... male rabbits or male hamsters....The irresponsible breeders just leave the male in with the female, while birthing and after birthing in attempts to have the female rebred as quickly as possible, which is not good for her health, just keep that in mind, whether or not your female is pregnant, just seperate them now.

The reason male rats more often than not leave their pups alive is that he knows or is unsure if they're his pups. If he knows they're not his, he will think 'competition' and...well, you know. It's an understandable complex, but none the less a sad one.