Figure 2: Weight

Weighing your female prior to and then each day after mating can help you determine if she is pregnant. This is also a useful tool for determining if a litter has been reabsorbed. Your scale should be digital and be able to determine both ounces and grams using small increments. If you use a container to hold the rat still on the scale be sure to tare the scale (with the container on it) before weighing your rat.

Photos by Joanne “Bella” Hodges and Elisabeth Brooks.