edf01
New member
well, its not very sudden, but I am starting to have like 0 production.
I did have some issues which I knew the reason for no breeding. I wasn't holding on to replacements the best to replace breeder groups, and suddenly I had 2-3 breeder tubs just not producing. I do keep several cages of mixed genders in grow tanks, and i always just pulled from them... and never had issues with gettign them to start breeding.
Well, dont ask how by i missexed a group and they were all female... i guess one girl just had more junk in the trunk. Plus, theother group I started, they killed the male. The other group- I discovered ear chewing for the first time since i bred soft furs- been about 2-3 years.
Initially, the low production of soft furs was due to old groups. I restarted half, but had the issues above. I thought since i was able to hang onto the 20 gall grow tanks longer, i was prolly picking females that were older, so I started 4 tubs over again with younger soft furs. Now, i understand it could just take them some time to breed, but i noticed the hold tank that was the same size/age soft furs, i seen a litter dropped. I see litters dropped in my hold tanks at times- at least I used to.
My one new group dropped a litter, but now they are all dead. I see the hold tank has some pinks, and so far looks so good, but there are only 4-5. Hold tanks usually would have smaller litters due to there are more rodents in there, and i just let them go.
I am noticing a lot of baby eating- and it could simply be the first time mother syndrome, but i am getting frustrated- and kinda embarassed that I was breeding sucsessfully and not I have to ask a forum to double check me.... but hey, I'd rather someone double check me.
I did buy more waterbottles for the tanks, they have 2 per tank now. Breeder tubs have the big water bottles from big apple, and they don't go through them as quick as the grow tanks did ( but they got more now)
My breeders are in the big apple rodent breeder tubs, the grow outs I have the smaller ones in 3 10 gal tanks, and bigger ones in 5 20 gal breeder tanks.
They are kept in the snake room, and i just am not sure if I shoudl be keeping the space heater ( used to keep the temps in snake room decent since there is no heat on the 3rd floor) closer to them, or further away. The temps by the soft furs is like 74-75, temps by the snakes are 77-78. ( unfortunatly, i can't get the temps really high, but I seemed to have decent production through last winter, but I had best production in my old place where they were int he living room)
Feeding: i did switch diets, but it was well after i seen a drop in production. I used to feed the hog feed, but I went back to mazuri. I am however, asking the supplier if they can get the 6f breeder in. I do give sdome sweet feed on occasion, and did offer some dog food- not as the main diet, but extra munchables for higher protein- but they arent eating it.
My reg rats production is ok. I think they will do better on the 6f, but i had just found a mazuri supplier- i dont think the soft furs did bad on hog feed, but the rats were.
I keep 1.2 or 1.3 ratios. I keep them on the horse bedding pellets- but i always have kept them on it.
I read where they may do beter with better air flow- I do have a fan running to spread the heat, but it doesnt blow in any cages- rats or snakes. Opening a window is really not an option because of the snakes, and we are having a cool weather issues, due to the wonderful season of winter- i'd just fear downsides to opening a window with the snakes.
So, I could be resolving my issue with replacing a bunch of my breeder tubs, but i just am at the point where i want someone to look over my info and give advice just in case.
Luckily, 90% of my collection went back to reg rats- i fed almost all soft furs. I do still have a good amount in the grow tanks, its just in a few months if i dont start getting babies, I will be hurting. I used to be able to gas 2-3 20 gall tanks and have them filled again ( from the 10 gall tanks, and then the 10 gall tanks would be filled once the new set was weaned.) I did get some babies, but concidering it was from all breeder tubs, its just not there.
Any advice? if you have any questions about my set up, let me know. I appreciate input as to what may be happening.
thanks guys,
Janet
I did have some issues which I knew the reason for no breeding. I wasn't holding on to replacements the best to replace breeder groups, and suddenly I had 2-3 breeder tubs just not producing. I do keep several cages of mixed genders in grow tanks, and i always just pulled from them... and never had issues with gettign them to start breeding.
Well, dont ask how by i missexed a group and they were all female... i guess one girl just had more junk in the trunk. Plus, theother group I started, they killed the male. The other group- I discovered ear chewing for the first time since i bred soft furs- been about 2-3 years.
Initially, the low production of soft furs was due to old groups. I restarted half, but had the issues above. I thought since i was able to hang onto the 20 gall grow tanks longer, i was prolly picking females that were older, so I started 4 tubs over again with younger soft furs. Now, i understand it could just take them some time to breed, but i noticed the hold tank that was the same size/age soft furs, i seen a litter dropped. I see litters dropped in my hold tanks at times- at least I used to.
My one new group dropped a litter, but now they are all dead. I see the hold tank has some pinks, and so far looks so good, but there are only 4-5. Hold tanks usually would have smaller litters due to there are more rodents in there, and i just let them go.
I am noticing a lot of baby eating- and it could simply be the first time mother syndrome, but i am getting frustrated- and kinda embarassed that I was breeding sucsessfully and not I have to ask a forum to double check me.... but hey, I'd rather someone double check me.
I did buy more waterbottles for the tanks, they have 2 per tank now. Breeder tubs have the big water bottles from big apple, and they don't go through them as quick as the grow tanks did ( but they got more now)
My breeders are in the big apple rodent breeder tubs, the grow outs I have the smaller ones in 3 10 gal tanks, and bigger ones in 5 20 gal breeder tanks.
They are kept in the snake room, and i just am not sure if I shoudl be keeping the space heater ( used to keep the temps in snake room decent since there is no heat on the 3rd floor) closer to them, or further away. The temps by the soft furs is like 74-75, temps by the snakes are 77-78. ( unfortunatly, i can't get the temps really high, but I seemed to have decent production through last winter, but I had best production in my old place where they were int he living room)
Feeding: i did switch diets, but it was well after i seen a drop in production. I used to feed the hog feed, but I went back to mazuri. I am however, asking the supplier if they can get the 6f breeder in. I do give sdome sweet feed on occasion, and did offer some dog food- not as the main diet, but extra munchables for higher protein- but they arent eating it.
My reg rats production is ok. I think they will do better on the 6f, but i had just found a mazuri supplier- i dont think the soft furs did bad on hog feed, but the rats were.
I keep 1.2 or 1.3 ratios. I keep them on the horse bedding pellets- but i always have kept them on it.
I read where they may do beter with better air flow- I do have a fan running to spread the heat, but it doesnt blow in any cages- rats or snakes. Opening a window is really not an option because of the snakes, and we are having a cool weather issues, due to the wonderful season of winter- i'd just fear downsides to opening a window with the snakes.
So, I could be resolving my issue with replacing a bunch of my breeder tubs, but i just am at the point where i want someone to look over my info and give advice just in case.
Luckily, 90% of my collection went back to reg rats- i fed almost all soft furs. I do still have a good amount in the grow tanks, its just in a few months if i dont start getting babies, I will be hurting. I used to be able to gas 2-3 20 gall tanks and have them filled again ( from the 10 gall tanks, and then the 10 gall tanks would be filled once the new set was weaned.) I did get some babies, but concidering it was from all breeder tubs, its just not there.
Any advice? if you have any questions about my set up, let me know. I appreciate input as to what may be happening.
thanks guys,
Janet
