cannibal rats?

[kevyn]

We just recently purchased two rats as a base to start breeding our own feeders. The female rat had a small litter of only two pups. She has since then cannibalized them both. The male rat is in the same room, but in a separate cage. Is it possible she did this in order to breed again? Or do we just have the next Hannibal Lecter on our hands?

[mykee]

No, she did not eat her babies to breed again. Females go into an estrus cycle a day after they give birth, so they could in fact get pregnant the following day. I would leave the male in with the female, there's no need to seperate them. Assuming that this was your females first litter, chalk the eating of the babies up to inexperience, if it happens a second time, feed her off and try again. It happens, don't stress it.

[sapphire_moon]

yup. Out of 6 litters (between 3 females) I've had cannabilisim once. I and it was a still born. I have more problems with still borns than I do cannabalisim.

If you want a steady supply of rats you should probably leave the male in with her. Otherwise you have to wait until the babies are weaned to introduce them again.

[Lisa]

often rats will cannabilise the babies that wouldn't survive. We try to get in and remove them first (you see the babies rejected are not in the nest with the other babies).

Other times they just don't have enough food/water.

[mykee]

Lisa, another reason for seeing babies seperate in the cages is if there is a larger baby:nipple ratio, then the mother will often feed in 'shifts, seperating the babies she's already fed, to feed the others.

[Jayson]

Lisa mykee is correct, the way i tell if they are actually rejected is just put your hand on them and if they feel cold to the touch then they were probably rejected.

But on the other hand i had a nest the other day which had over 40 babies in it and all were doing fine.

I use to remove all still borns right away, but have stopped unless it is cleaning day, I dont put dead rats back in the nest. The reason might seem a little morbid but I think that the still born might add some need nutrition to the females diet (more protine). And in factin the last few months i have noticed that the larger litters are doing better.

I have no prof that this is the reason, Just my opinion

[kevyn]

Thanks all. Very helpful as always.