Problems with my mama rat. Baby rats are dying and I don't know what to do.

[minkajane]

I'm having serious issues with my rat. It seems she was pregnant when we got her from the store, because a couple of weeks after we got her, she had 13 babies. I moved her and the babies into an aquarium so they wouldn't fall out of the cage and get eaten by the dogs. They're almost 3 weeks old now.

I've been having serious issues with the mama rat. She's VERY aggressive, to the point where we've had to construct a barrier to put in the cage when we want to change the water or food. We've observed her systematically testing the defenses of the cover by ramming her nose HARD into various points on it. I've had to put a heavy weight on it to keep her in and she still tests it.

I'm having a very hard time keeping the cage clean because whenever I put a bowl of water in, she immediately dumps it or fills it with bedding. The cage REEKS within 36 hours of a complete cleaning and bedding change, plus the babies aren't getting enough water. We buy water bottles to hook to the sides and she gnaws through them. Same problems with the food. It gets scattered into the bedding or she ignores it unless it's something like bread. Rodent food doesn't get eaten unless she just can't help it.

I found two of the babies dead today. I don't know if it was from the dirty water, not enough milk (she doesn't seem to like to nurse them and will often walk to the other side of the cage, dropping babies along the way), or what. If I tried to keep up with her, I'd be cleaning the cage twice a day and replacing the water about 30 times a day. What can I do to help keep the rest of the babies healthy until they're weaned?

[Minky]

I didn't want to read and not respond.

I'm not sure if there's anything you can do to help the ones that are dying. From my experience with hamsters, some rodents are just bad mothers. I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that you stop changing the cage so often, though.... she may be neglecting her babies because she feels unsafe. I think that's the one factor you have control over; the others may be genetic defects or the fact that your mama rat probably felt unsafe through most of her pregnancy. I guess it depends on your tolerance for the stench, which is par for the course with 10+ babies.

Good luck with your ratties.

[minkajane]

I'm only changing it every 4-5 days. I was just saying that if I tried to keep up, that's how much I would be changing it. I try to leave them alone as much as possible. I don't know what else I can do.

[2xy]

Do you think the aquarium might be too small? You don't mention what size tank it is, but you might need a bigger tank for all those rats to live together.

I read that mother rats might kill the babies if the mother is too young or too old. She might be just stressed from all the changes in her life at once.

Are you feeding her the same food she had in the pet store? Have you tried another type of food?

I've only ever had hamsters, but they chewed up their water bottles, too. This type is a good solution.

(Also, did you know that rats can become fertile at around 5 weeks? If you don't have a plan for those babies, you'd better make one!)

[LeahBoo]

Get another water bottle, and some 1/4 inch wire mesh (called hardware cloth and sold at hardware and feed stores). Make a cage for the bottle.

They're dying because they don't have access to enough water, and probably food too. Most stores sell hamster food for rats, and they are very different animals. You can feed "people food". They're systems are much like ours, they need alot of the same foods. Every day, give them a bowl of chicken (leftover chicken bones are awesome for rats, they are too small to eat them whole like dogs do, so they don't splinter), rice, apples, broccoli, etc. Maybe with a drizzle of coconut or olive oil. Hard boiled eggs are great too. Too much protein isn't good though. If you can't do this, dog food is an acceptable option. Again, watch the protein. 20 - 25% max. Less protein after they're babies.

Take her out when they're about 4 weeks. They CAN be weaned now, if needed, but like people, the longer the can nurse, the better. Separate the males from females at 5 - 6 weeks.

I have had many many litters of rats, if you have more questions, ask away.

[Oubliette8]

I'd look for a bottle guard or build one yourself. Here's an example of a commercial one- http://www.novalek.com/oasis/shields...rner_guard.htm Although you could make something that completely encloses the bottle yourself too.

As far as the food, try feeding her your leftovers. Rats can eat basically anything humans eat. Dog food is also a good suggestion, although after the babies are weaned I'd keep it under 20% protein.

with the babies, if the mother is so aggressive, I'd probably remove them early once they seem to be feeding themselves. They'll make much better pets if you are able to handle and socialize them, which you can't do with this particular mother around.

I almost forgot, another suggestion is to find a glass water bottle. They're harder to locate, but less likely to get chewed up. With a holder/guard you could hang it over the tank. I'd really recommend getting away from the water bowl for 2 reasons- first, as you've noticed, its not sanitary. Second, I've seen baby rodents drown in water bowls, they fall in and then can't get back out. If you have to keep using a bowl, get a heavy crock type bowl that will be hard to tip over. And put something in it- maybe a small aquarium rock, that the babies can use to climb out if they were to fall in.