babies

Question
my son has two rats they bought the second one not knowing it was pregnant it had 8 babies. How old do they breed as they need to know the right age to seperate them.

Answer
The males need away from the females by the time they are 4.5 weeks old, no later than 5 weeks old.  Mom rat is also fertile the day after she gives birth.  

Do be sure to handle and pet the new rats from here on. Mom rat will not harm the babies if humans handle them. If you do not touch and hold them, by the time they open their eyes around 2 weeks old, they will be terrified of humans and it will be impossible to socialize them and you wont find good homes for them.  Pet stores will simply toss them to the feeder bin for snake food.  If you do not plan to keep them, I can help find a rat rescue for you that will accept unwanted babies.

CHeck out my site to see how to sex newborn rats in order to be able to know a male from female before the testicles are prominent.
http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/rathealthinformation.htm

If you need anything else, please be sure to let me know!

~Sandy