rodents pricing shipping etc

[rwg]

After spending $70 on frozen dead animals the other day I started thinking maybe it's about time to start bulk ordering. I have a bunch of questions. First of all, what kind of prices can I expect to get on medium rats, and small/medium adult mice? What kind of quantities will I need to order to get those prices? What does shipping from the majors (rodentpro via C. Woods, mice4you etc) typically cost to Ottawa? What about prices at the PCPC shows? How long will rodents keep in a fridge freezer? In a deep freeze?

Thanks.

[justinO]

mice will run you about .65-.80 each...
rats will run you about $1.75-$2.00 each.....

the only real discounts come when you order over 500 of one kind.

No idea about shipping, probably a LOT, if you can make it to the PCPC shows they usually have good sales and you can save your cost of shipping.

I've only heard of the bunnies being in deepfreeze, and even so, I think most people will say that you shouldn't keep frozen rodents more than 6 months (less for smaller rodents).

When we had more than 20 snakes and spending over $100 a month in rats, we started breeding our own and cut our costs in half..... although it's a huge pain now and we are probably both allergic to them! Still, the convience is GREAT.

Other than that, I think you are stuck paying.......

Jessy

[Ptindy]

A rodent can be kept frozen WAY longer then 6 months if you have it packaged right. What could possibly happen to a rodent that is frozen longer then 6 months other then freezer burnt? Freezer burnt is easily fixed wit ha couple zip locs and a paper bag over them.

Mike

[rwg]

Those rates sound pretty good. I'm paying 2.60 for approximately 150g rats, and over $1 for mice in small quantities. Breeding is not an option for me. Too much time committment.

Planning to be at PCPC in Nov anyway, so I guess my best bet is to buy 6 months supply at the show.

[annieb_mice]

If your rodents are properly vacuum sealed and the seal is NOT broken, your rodents can be kept in a deep freezer (chest freezer) for between 2 - 3 years. Once the seal is broken, put them into a ziplock bag and try to get as much air out as possible. They should last about 6 months in a ziplock bag. I wouldn't use anything that has been sitting in the freezer for longer then that. Think about it.... would YOU like to eat a roast
that has been sitting in your freezer for 9 months?? :P
Prices on rodents vary from place to place... some ranging in price from as low as 15 - 20 cents per pinky and 50 cents per adult mouse to as high as $2 per mouse. I would recommend that before you order from ANY rodent supplier you ask them some questions to ensure that you are getting a quality product...
What do they feed their mice?
How are the mice euthanized?
How do they package their mice?
ect....
Shipping can vary as well as each breeder may use a different shipping company. The shipping rates can range from $20 to about $50 depending on the quantity ordered and the shipping company used. Some companies will offer free shipping within a certain radius if you order a certain amount.

Take care
Annie B. <:3 )~~

[rwg]

What do I want my feeder mice to be fed anyway? Is gut-loading important for reptiles, or is it overall nutrition that I'm concerned about with feeder rodents?

rg

[jadegrasse]

If you freeze rodents in a 'chest' type deep freeze, there is no air circulation like a regular freezer. This greatly reduces the chance of freezer burn. My parents used to purchase 1/2 a beef cow at a time (11 kids) and we often defrosted stuff that had been frozen 2 or sometimes 3 years before. If kept below -40 and well wrapped in good deep freeze then it looked and tasted as if it had just been frozen. There are stories of Russians eating frozen Mammoth elephents frozen over 6000 years and the meat was fine.

[annieb_mice]

Originally posted by rwg
What do I want my feeder mice to be fed anyway? Is gut-loading important for reptiles, or is it overall nutrition that I'm concerned about with feeder rodents?

rg

**** Personally, I prefer my reptiles food to have an excellent overall diet rather than just be gut-loaded. This includes insects as well as rodents.
Gut-loading sounds good, but think about it for a moment. In reality, the insect could have been fed cheap crap food for most of its life, then suddenly fed a HIGH quality diet one day before being fed off. Okay... think of it this way .... imagine a person who has been malnourished most of his life, eating whatever he can find, then suddenly getting a huge wonderfully nutritious dinner. Do you really think that ONE nutritious meal will make up for a life of malnutrition?
An excellent overall diet is definately far better as the rodent/insect will definately be FAR healthier and more nutritious.... a far better meal for your reptile! :)
Take care
Annie B. <:3 )~~

[mice4you]

If you are interested and let me know before hand, we can bring vacuum sealed rodents to the PCPC show.

Shipping to Ottawa on an average shipment normally costs around $30-40.

Feel free to call or email us if you have any questions