Litter was born 8/5/2003, the result of a mother/son breeding. Total pups in the litter were six-one with anencephaly, two fully-formed dead pups and three live, normal, healthy-looking pups. I was not there to witness the birth, and therefore, I don't know if the baby with anencephaly was born alive. I have to assume that the two fully-formed pups might have been lost due to the doe having trouble delivering the anencephaly pup (larger than normal amniotic sac?). When I did find Ginnie (Imagine My Surprise) with her new babies, they were all clean and in the nest-all six of them. She was acting normal-ready for treats and scritches but happy to be back with her pups when play/treat time (ten minutes, maximum, for a mom with a new litter) was over. The live pups had milk bands and were pink and wiggly. I did not think to weigh the pups.

The sire of the litter was SRR Rascal. He was born 2/1/2003, the result of a breeding between SRR Ron Weasley and KK Imagine My Surprise. His litter consisted of eleven. All of them lived (thrived) and are doing well in pet homes and in breeder homes. Breeder homes they went to include, of course, SRR (SRR Rascal, SRR Seabiscuit), but also Tekka Maki (SRR Tarrie-Cat, a female, RMFE Best Standard Type 5/2003, and SRR John Mischief), Sugar and Spice Rattery (SRR Pepper) and Rodents of Unusual Sweetness (SRR Sophie Tucker).

The dam of the litter was KK Imagine My Surprise. She was born 6/3/2002 in Leavenworth, Kansas at Landmark Rattery. There have been no incidences of health problems with any related rats. Her aunt was pregnant and delivered about the same time her mother, KK Yuma, did. There has been a brother-sister breeding from those litters, and none have had any health issues.

The diet the rats get is listed on my site, but pregnant does do get higher protein foods and extra veggies. The base of the diet is Harlan Teklad 2018 for females (2014 for adult males), and when I can't get it, they get (Purina's) LabDiet 5001 (adults) or 5008 (babies and pregnant or nursing does). We have to go to St. Louis, Missouri to get Harlan products, but we don't run out very often. They do not receive any special supplements (NutriCal, Ensure, etc.) until after their pups are born because we have concerns that the pups might be too big for mom to deliver. The bedding used for pregnant does and their pups is aspen shavings. They are housed in Sterilite bins with ventilation on one side and on the top and are given "out time" each day. Their water comes from the tap, aged for a day or so, and then poured into clean bottles with stainless steel tubes. The only objects I put into mommy bins before pups reach two weeks are toilet paper rolls, and sometimes, paper napkins. They do not get any other toys or bowls as I have lost pups due to bowls being turned over on top of them. I haven't been weird about checking how much folic acid they are getting until this litter, however, I have been breeding for four and a half years, and this is the first time I've had such a problem come up. In relation to other breeders, that isn't much experience, but I do have more than ten litters per year. I have also checked on a few forums and email groups, and no one has run into this problem with their rats. . .ever. . .that I can find.

The three living siblings are doing well. Two of them, SRR Hubba Hubba, a male, and SRR Oh Baby, a female, live at Spoiled Ratten. The other from the litter, a male named SRR Wowza, is at Landmark. I have not asked her not to breed him as I trust her judgement in these matters. If she chooses to breed him, I am confident she will tell me how things go. My girl, Ginnie, is as healthy and happy as ever. I love that rat!

UPDATE-SRR Wowza was not bred. SRR Hubba Hubba was bred to SRR Oh Baby, and she died in labor on 5/25/2004. The vet found nothing unusual about the pups (and no anencephaly) and nothing abnormal about the amniotics sacs. There was a large (but not abnormally large) pup in the birth canal. SRR Hubba Hubba died 10/23/2004.

A couple of pedigrees: