New trio

beanersmysav · 12-30-04, 10:06 PM

I just got a trio for free from a pet store, they all appeared to be healthy, but when I got them male out he seemed to be sneezing alot. Or seemingly sneezing. The pet store had him on Aspen shavings the same ones I buy for my corn snakes, and I've got the rats on 5 layers of news paper no shavings. It's a large ferret mansion I keep him in so I put a large humidifier next to his cage to see if this stops him from sneezing. It's 72 degrees f. where I keep him, and it was slightly warmer in the pet store. Any other sugguestions will be helpful. The females seem really healthy and both laid a cluth of 9 just 3 weeks ago. The male is the father to both of the litters.

Also is there any place online where I could acquire some good adult rats CB in the states?

sapphire_moon · 01-02-05, 06:03 PM

Are you talking about the trio of rats (I'm assuming you mean the furry kind) laid a clutch? They don't lay eggs, they have litters.

If the male rat is sneezing alot with red discharge around the eyes/nose it is probably a myco flare up. Or because he is stressed. Aspen shavings are fine for rats.

He doesn't sound congested (from what you say, it is just the sneezes) so you can move the humidifier. (if it sounds like he is making "monkey" like noises then the humidifier might be a good idea)

If you are breeding in a "ferret mansion" then you might want to put some 1/2 inch wire mesh around it, for the babies will be able to walk right out.

Try putting something for them to snuggle on (yes, I own pet rats, how can you tell? lol) 72 is a fine temperature (if you are breeding I had better luck with cooler temps, more around 68-70 degrees)

you won't be able to buy breeder rats from a breeder (breeder in your case meaning for reptile food) as most real rat breeders are against it

because "most" (I'm not saying everyone, as most people here humanely kill the rats they feed) are against live feeding and inhumanely killing them.

So your best bet would be to find a reptile food breeder and buy some adults off of them, or go to a pet store.

BTW why would you be breeding wild rats? As far as I know most rats in pet stores etc....are "cb"

beanersmysav · 01-03-05, 08:08 AM

Yes I do mean the furry kind and I know they have lives births. There is no red discharges from nose/eyes/mouth it just sneezes a little bit. They're only living in a ferret mansion once the rats put on extra weight I move the females to a 30 gallon breeder tanks.

As far as something to snuggle on they have plenty of hands towels, newspaper, and hides.

Also I've run into the problems of buying breeders from dealers. I didn't even tell then I was using it to breed food (and yes I'd humanely euthanise -gas chamber) infact I think it's going to hard for me to even do that the first couple of times. I'm sure I'll eventually toughen up and get over it but my adult rats are just so damn cute except when it craps on me.

Thanks for your help.

sapphire_moon · 01-03-05, 02:57 PM

I never got over it, it is still really hard for me to have to feed my hognose, becuase he refuses everythign except live.

If your females can't get out of the ferret mansion your doin good! lol, most females would be able to squeeze right out!!

If these are new girls they probably just have the sneezies from the stress of moving and such.

And those craps are called fear poops and they usually stink REALLY bad, lol

and like I said, I had quick breeding while the temps were cooler, around 68-79 degrees.

beanersmysav · 01-03-05, 09:00 PM

Well hopefully none of mine will ever have to be fed live although I'm sure that's quite the stretch.

Hopefully mine will breed quick since they're almost right in between there at about a constant 72 since the basement is a decent amount underground.