heating my breeders?

[snakehunter]

im getting breeder mice this weekend, and they will be placed in my snakes old enclosure(w uth), so could i use the uth, or should i just forget it, and breed my meeces thanx
-Jacob

[Stockwell]

Forget the UTH! Mice do well in the 65 to 75F range. You shouldn't have to heat them if they are inside. They also produce a lot of heat themselves, and will easily overheat. Lighting is important for good production though, so you might want to add a fluorescent. I wouldn't keep mice in the same room as your snakes or you'll be getting bit constantly.

[Bryce Masuk]

Roy is right but he forgot to add this More heat will cause you mice to breed LESS so keep them at room temp or a bit lower

[snakehunter]

thanx, i didnt think i was going to use it any way, just thought i would ask in case i got some wild hair....

i think that my herp room is the only place to keep my mice, i get bit by snakes all the time, so i dont think that will be a prob, BUT could this affect my BPs, would they go nuts? thanx
-Jacob

[mykee]

I keep my breeding rats right beside my snake racks, and I have never been bitten by either the rats, or the snakes. I don't understand what the reasoning would be behind that. Anyone?

[Linds]

Originally posted by mykee
I don't understand what the reasoning would be behind that. Anyone?

The reasoning we are all speaking of is that with the scent of rodents in such a close proximity to snakes is that their are bound to be feeding mistakes. Snake smells food, snake feels warmth from you or motion, snake thinks your food. Same reason you don't stick your hand in the cage when you've been cleaning rodents. If your snakes are small and you don't mind getting bit, its not a big safety issue... if you are working with medium to large sized boids then it becomes a death wish. I know some of my snakes, and some of the snakes I work with, you so much as walk past their cage with a prey item and they strike. In all fairness to the snakes as well, IMHO its kinda like teasing them. Food is right there, but they can't have it... 24/7 :(

[mykee]

Linds, makes sense, guess I've been lucky, never been struck at, nor bitten and have had rats right beside my ball racks for months. I also use common sense which would (cross your fingers) explain why I've not been bitten.

[Lisa]

It could also stress the snakes and the rodents, just because you feed the snakes rats/mice doesn't meant the rodents wouldn't turn the tables and eat the snake.... specially a colony. Many people will say they have had no problem, how ever IMHO it's not good for the snakes and rodents to always be on edge because they can smell each other (rodents can smell just as well as snakes).

[unknownclown]

I keep my snakes in the same room as the breeders too and I havent had a problem yet. But then again I have about 105 give or take rodents and just 2 boas and 1 baby corn snake. Im WAY overloaded with rodents and my snakes are fed till they wont eat any more. So I dont think my snakes are stressed about them being in the same room, now if I were to hold off and not feed as much, or have something like a large burmese, which seem to always be hungry, then Id probably take it into consideration and change my ways.

Now if the rodents are stressed they dont show it neither. This may sound a bit harsh but Im not too worried about that since they should be used to it being in the same room with the snakes from birth. Personally I think they should be more worried about me since Im the one taking them for a short bumpy trip in the pillow case.