Caring for baby rats

Question
QUESTION: My boyfriend and I thought it would be cute to buy two rats as pets, a boy for him and a girl for me. They weren't that old when we bought them, and have had them for about 3 months now. Lo and behold, Sunday (7-20-08) our little girl had babies. We called the pet store from where we got the rats, and knew to separate Ludwig, the father, from Daisy and her babies. We now have 15 little babies and a very protective mother. We've been giving Daisy fruits and vegetables along with her rat food, to make sure she's getting the nutrition she needs. I was wondering how long we should keep Ludwig away from Daisy, and if there's anything else we can do to make her motherhood easier on her.

ANSWER:   I wouldn't recommend putting the male back in with the female at all, unless you are trying to breed them (which I also wouldn't recommend).  If you are wanting her to have another litter, wait until at least two months after her current litter is weaned to give her a break.  Female rats should never be bred more than three times in their lives.

 If the male was in with the female while she was having the babies there is a possibility that he bred with her shortly after the birth.  Rats go through a post partum estrus and can get pregnant again within 24 hours of giving birth.  Keep an eye out for signs of a second pregnancy if they were together during that time.  You may have to wean the first litter a bit early or hand-feed them if a second litter is born.

 It sounds like you're on the right track, just keep her supplemented and she'll do the rest!  Rats are very good mothers most of the time, there isn't a lot you can do to help her.  Just keep her fed and her cage cleaned and she'll be just fine =)  Make sure you are handling the babies daily (you may have to remove her from the cage if she is protective) so they will be as tame as possible.

 For more information on baby rats visit this section of my website: http://careguide.evergreenrattery.com/baby_development.html

 Good luck with your rats!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Okay, so there were 15 babies. And now, the day before they turn 3 weeks old, there's only 11. The mother rat has eaten 4 babies. I'm not keeping them in there with her anymore, because I can't wake up to see a half eaten baby rat ever again. I'm too attached to the little guys now. I know they can eat on their own, they've been munching on lettuce and bananas and things that we've been feeding the mother. Will they be okay without her though? What can we give them to keep them healthy?

Answer
 At three weeks old they are only beginning to wean, if you are going to separate them from their mother make sure they are getting milk replacement as well as regular food for at least another week or two.  Human baby soy formula is best, though puppy or kitten milk can be used as well.  It would be preferable to leave them with the mother unless she really is killing and eating them.  It is very rare for that to happen at that advanced of an age, though sometimes due to genetic disorders such as megacolon the babies will die on their own and she will eat their dead body to clean up the nesting area.  If any of your babies have big fat tummies this may be the case.  Unless they are sick they will be just fine without milk from 4-5 weeks, and make sure you separate the males from the females between 5 and 6 weeks.