Africans

[RKB1985]

Now that I've got these guys figured out and sorted properly they're starting to reproduce without any casualties. Pretty sure I got the original trio back together b/c Ron's still alive and kickin, so no need for the reinforcements Fe. Thanks anyways though.

Ron's the one covering the babies up. He's such a good father, I swear the only time he gets off of them is when mom comes in to nurse.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/RKB1985/DSC05432.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/RKB1985/DSC05433.jpg

And here's some of their previous offspring:

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/RKB1985/DSC05434.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/RKB1985/DSC05435.jpg

[BalloonzForU]

Sweet!! I guess Daddy got the albino gene.

[RKB1985]

Yes he does. :)

[sputnik]

They look "Sweet".... that's what my bp's said to tell ya.... LOL :becky:

[FloridaHogs]

Nice...wish I could get ahold of some here.

[RKB1985]

They look "Sweet".... that's what my bp's said to tell ya.... LOL :becky:

The 'Little Debbies' of rats... :becky:

[BalloonzForU]

The 'Little Debbies' of rats... :becky:

Too bad they are mean as hell!!

[RKB1985]

The only mean one I've got here is the dark girl from you. Believe it or not, even the ones I rescued from Ken's garage are pretty nice..

Besides that one girl the rest of them run right up to me. Unless there's babies, then Ron runs around the cage like a maniac with babies hanging out of his mouth so I can't take them from him or something. :noidea:

[BalloonzForU]

Yeah they are very protective of their young. When it's time to take the babies out to house seperate I use feeding tongs to take them out.

[AneesasMuse]

They're so cute! I wonder if Gordo would like those.. ...I can't get them here, oh well.

[RKB1985]

Yeah they are very protective of their young. When it's time to take the babies out to house seperate I use feeding tongs to take them out.

For some reason ours aren't even bad when the babies around, other than Ron running wildly, but even he settles down after you catch him. Danielle was actually holding them all yesterday, including the babies. Even the mean girl settles down. It's almost like curiosity takes over. **knock on wood**

Couple questions while we're on the separation topic:

How do you know when they're weaned? Observation the key? I took the last ones out when I seen them in the food dish eating, but was paranoid they weren't ready, b/c even though they were munching on their own they still laid up underneath the adults and I didn't know if they were still nursing.

Also when these pups are weaned and I separate the sexes, can they go in with their older siblings? I had 5 females and 1 male last time. The lone male went in with the two females from Kens and the 5 females went in a new tub. So will this new group of females be safe to go in the same female tub, or will they be persecuted for not being part of the group? Hate to see any of them go through what Ron went through b/c of their cliquishness. :boxing:

Finally, don't you just love playing 500 questions? :becky:

[BalloonzForU]

You're doing it right. I take them out when they start drinking and feeding on their own. They wil keep nursing as much as they can if you or mom lets them.

Young ones are excepted into an older group without issues.

[markface]

i'm seriously considering bringing a few of these home from work to set up a small breeding colony . they do seem to produce babies at a fast steady pace .

[BalloonzForU]

Average litter for me has been 12-14, they breed great!!

[Tama]

They do breed well. Left for vacation and reduced the numbers considerably before leaving. Came home to the cages FULL of babies! Cleaning was a big pain today trying to move them all out of the way.

[Carpet]

i need to get ahold of some of these. there is a guy at the taylor show that usually has them. i think im going to get some this next show.