>my female had babies on feb 11th and i just took them to the pet store less
>than a week ago at 5 weeks old..she just had a second litter of 5
>today..isnt that too fast?? what is the time between litters? because i
>would like to seperate mom and dad before i end up with a fourth, im sure
>its too late already, although I did not see them breed today. But who
>knows>>?? thanks in advance..
A female is rebred if the male is there, during and right after the
delivery. She can be nursing and gestating at the same time.
Usually first litter takes 24-28 days...and the same if she is not
dealing with babies when she is re-impregnated (as in the female
took a break from cranking out litters). Next litter is usually
delayed around 33-38 days...but some have seen 28 in
between. So she can still have pups in the nest and have
a new litter.
If the father was in the cage when she gave birth, assume
she is pregnant.
If you don't want more babies...then keep a male and a
female from this litter. At 4 1/2 to five weeks or just as
you see the female getting gravid again (try to secondguess
when she's going to deliver), take the selected male pup
and the father out, and leave the selected female pup in
with the mother. The father knows the pup and will accept
his son, and that way he won't be lonely...and the female
will have her daughter to help raise the litter.
Also, don't trust a male pup after six weeks, he may
be able to breed a female in heat. One person on
this forum reported a son breeding his mother at
nine weeks old. And an experienced male, will both
cause daughters to mature faster (at six instead of
8-9 weeks) and if they come into heat he will breed
them. (several cases). If removed at about five
weeks old, you can keep the males and females
together for another few weeks. Then break down
and pair/group up the litter, or at least separate
by sex.
Good luck.
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch
