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Breeding Ratties

I really love Blue Rats and since we don't get them here I decided to breed my blue hooded dumbo male and to my female dumbo who has a few blue spots on her. I'm crossing my finger for at least one blue baby. I have homes for the babies so that isn't a problem but I just want to know of how to care for a pregnant momma. Are there any foods I should add to her diet? I weighed her today so I can she if she gains any weight because I haven't seen them mate. Are there any other signs to tell that she is pregnant?
 
You'll know when she's pregnant (I mean, not right away). She'll practically double her size. Her regular diet is perfectly fine, she'll just eat more.

"homes" = mouths?
 
Shenzi off BP.net said:
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You'll know.

And if they're REALLY pregnant, either with a lot of babies or soon to pop (or both), you may see this. This girl had 19 babies about 12 hours later. However, even when she had less than 8, I could see some movement. Not like that, but still noticeable.

As for food, hard boiled eggs are a nice idea, as is a bit of cat food mixed in with her normal stuff (since you aren't feeder breeding I think). A cheap cat food that has no dyes and still lots of grains is The Goodlife Recipe. You can get it at Walmart in a 5lb bag. Your other rats will probably like it as a small treat.

A strong buck will hold the female down for a few seconds while mating, so you should occasionally see something like this. And mind you, he usually won't mount unless she's on her cycle. It's normal for females to squeal quite a bit too.
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Anything else?
 
Oh, I SHOULD note that the black one (berkshire) had 13 small pups, while the hooded girl in those pictures and video had 19 smaller than normal but not tiny pups. You WILL see a belly forming on even small litter prego girls though.
 
Yeah my rat Lucy only had 4 babies but she was big enough when pregnant for the pet store to notice. And like Shenzi said, eggs are good.
 
Thanks for the help. I have seen pregnant females but they were only a week away from delivering, I've never had one from the begining.

My girl seems to be gaining a little weight. I let my male spend a few nights with her 2 weeks ago and again this week just to make sure so we'll see. I feel that she is pregnant because her belly feels a little different to me but my bf doesn't think so. It may be my wishfully thinking lol.
 
Watching them balloon from the beginning is pretty interesting. Nothing for a while, then all of a sudden, "Honey, are you putting on weight?"

If it's been about two weeks, her belly should be beginning to fill out. Non prego females are real sleek, almost like a short haired dog or a ferret, and you can see a bump where the hips begin. That bump that makes the hip disappears first, or is what I notice first. If you can get her to stand up at something, you'll probably be able to see what looks a bit like a beer/pot belly starting.
 
Watching them balloon from the beginning is pretty interesting. Nothing for a while, then all of a sudden, "Honey, are you putting on weight?"

If it's been about two weeks, her belly should be beginning to fill out. Non prego females are real sleek, almost like a short haired dog or a ferret, and you can see a bump where the hips begin. That bump that makes the hip disappears first, or is what I notice first. If you can get her to stand up at something, you'll probably be able to see what looks a bit like a beer/pot belly starting.

I can't get her to let me look at her tummy which was another reason I think she is pregnant because normally she will let me flip her over and rub her tummy. Now when I try to look at it she tries to run away.
 
Yeah, it gets sensitive. Maybe you could offer her a treat and hold it up until she stands up to get it.
 
That's a good idea, I'll try that but I don't think there is to much of a difference. In another week or so I'll know for sure when she turns into a balloon lol.
 
I'll upload a video in a bit, but if she was squealing a lot when she was with him, I figure it was. As opposed to keeping pairs together all the time, I had my buck with two girls for only about 2 hours and both are really pregnant now.

It may also depend on the male's interest. Sometimes mine is really in the mood, sometimes he isn't.
 
I'll upload a video in a bit, but if she was squealing a lot when she was with him, I figure it was. As opposed to keeping pairs together all the time, I had my buck with two girls for only about 2 hours and both are really pregnant now.

It may also depend on the male's interest. Sometimes mine is really in the mood, sometimes he isn't.

I had her with him a few months ago and say them mate then after he started cleaning himself. That happened a couple times and nothing came of it. This time I really didn't see them do anything and I haven't heard anything but I'm not in the room all the time either.
 
Hm. Perhaps one is infertile? It's annoying, but it screwed up things happen. I've got a female who I'm convinced is female but acts like a complete male.
 
I wouldn't rule it out until after the due date, sometimes they can surprise you!

You are right. My girl is pregnant and I'm assuming she got pregnant right before I started this thread or right after so she is due between tonight and the end of the weekend I think. I weighed her Monday and she weighed 280g then I weighed her Tuesday and she weighed 328g then Thursday she weighed 350g then 12 hrs later I weighed her and she weighed in at 364g so she is getting big.
 
Keep checking on her. Her sides are probably huge, so once you can see the pups moving inside, I say she'll drop them in about 12 hours.
 
My rattie blew up three days ago and today has been going crazy over her nest lol. Looks like she swallowed a baseball!
 
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