is Raising feeder mice for you?

[Lori P]

I have a question on rats. Are they less aggressive to each other than mice? I ask because, I have only one male and 5 females. Three females were given to me and are housed seperately from the male and 2 females. One gave birth right after I got her and the babies are 2 weeks old.

So... can I eventually move the male between the 2 tanks, or, should I find another male? Or, if I get them a big enough home-- right now they are in 55 tanks, but looking for something bigger-- can I move them all in together? I guess my question is, do rats kill newcomers or welcome them with open arms??

[infernalis]

From our own experience, I cannot say it is a rule or anything, since I only have the one encounter to go on.....

We purchased a female rat first, we had her a few weeks and then picked up a male, we placed the male in with her, and she tore right into him, like "you are not man enough for me" so we had to remove him, a few weeks later she rejected another male.

That ended our rat breeding experiment, our daughter keeps Diamond and Cole in her room in separate cages.

"Cow" the smaller male had a long intereting meeting with Cain, and Cain ruled that "Cow" should be sentanced to death by constriction followed by consumption.

The female has a big ferret cage, and Cole has a guinea pig cage.

[Loren]

Lori, I have not had near the social problems with rats as I have with mice. I move male rats in and out as I please, and havent had anyone kill anyone yet. Usually, I run 1 male to 3 females, full time, but I have been sharing a male between 2 of my female groups for a while too.

[Lori P]

SWEET Loren, thanks. I thought I had heard they were easier. I don't know if I can do this rat thing, tho... I already have 3 babies picked out as pets... lol!! They are so damn cute!!!! I think if I can stick to freezing the pups within a week, I'll be ok....

[Lori P]

I mean... WOOK at him!!!!! (Or her)





What a little kissey face!!!!

[Stefan-A]

I mean... WOOK at him!!!!! (Or her)

You know, when I first read that, I thought WOOK was meant as a portmanteau of WOK and COOK.

[Loren]

Yeah Lori, its gonna be hard for you because you are breaking the "dont play with your food" rule.

My rats get clean cage, food and water. Thats the only regular interaction I give them other than removing babies.

[Lori P]

You know, when I first read that, I thought WOOK was meant as a portmanteau of WOK and COOK.

Sorry, Stefan, I was talking baby talk... lol. I had to look up portmanteau... great word!!!

Loren... I know.... but.... so cute... must snuggle and play!!!! Probably will get over it with subsequent litters... this was my first.

[Aundrea]

OMG Lori!!! That little rat is soooo CUTE!!!!!!! Is that one of the rat pups in the pic your keeping as a pet?

[Zephyr]

I haven't been feeling guilty about offing my mice... I just kept the one silver gal and it makes me feel better.
White mama's gonna pop again... I have to take her babies right after they're born though, seeing as I've run out of pinkies and I have hungry mouths to feed. ):