Rat breeding

[Corey209]

All of my snakes are too big for mice and I have to drive thirty minutes every time I need a rat which gets kinda old. I'm wondering how many rat pairs I would need to feed three snakes weekly. Also what would be the cheapest and most efficient way to keep them?

[Aaron_S]

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/food-thought-forum/95349-rat-breeding.html

[jarich]

The cheapest and most efficient way is to buy them in bulk from an online breeder. Keep them in the freezer until you need them. Breeding them means you will have to put the extra in the freezer anyway and will cost you much more than buying.

[dinosaurdammit]

The cheapest and most efficient way is to buy them in bulk from an online breeder. Keep them in the freezer until you need them. Breeding them means you will have to put the extra in the freezer anyway and will cost you much more than buying.

This.

Also look around on craigslist for some cheep old chest freezers. You can pick up a cheep slightly used one for next to nothing and when you order your rats you have a place to keep them and it not take up food space for you and yours.

[infernalis]

Wal Mart has a brand new energy efficient chest freezer for less money than I spend on one rodent pro order.

Sure, an old cheapie is a great bargain up front, but if it's 10 years old, the compressor assembly will not be nearly as energy efficient as the newer technology, and the electric cost over the long run will exceed what was saved buying a used freezer.

[Aaron_S]

Wal Mart has a brand new energy efficient chest freezer for less money than I spend on one rodent pro order.

Sure, an old cheapie is a great bargain up front, but if it's 10 years old, the compressor assembly will not be nearly as energy efficient as the newer technology, and the electric cost over the long run will exceed what was saved buying a used freezer.

Good points. Also, who wants a freezer that has a lot of money in meat in it and it blow suddenly because we went cheap on it? Nobody wants to clean out thawing rodents.

[Corey209]

Problem is I don't feed frozen thawed which is why I was going to breed.

[dinosaurdammit]

Problem is I don't feed frozen thawed which is why I was going to breed.

rats breed
breed like crazy, your snakes are not going to gobble up all the babies in one litter and unless you separate them and only breed when you get desperate. In the end only breeding for 2 to even 4 animals isnt worth it unless you freeze some.

[infernalis]

Problem is I don't feed frozen thawed which is why I was going to breed.

A BP can slam a whole litter of baby rats like you would an order of McNuggets.

When I have too many, I just feed off the babies quickly. (like as soon as they have fur.)

Of course, having a pair of Monitors helps bunches.

[Jendee]

they are pregnant for 23 days...average 12 babies (mine do anyway) wean the babies at 20 days then do it over. lol it take 3 to 4 months for those baby to reach a good small size or a small medium.in the mean time u have to care for them all....

[Corey209]

rats breed
breed like crazy, your snakes are not going to gobble up all the babies in one litter and unless you separate them and only breed when you get desperate. In the end only breeding for 2 to even 4 animals isnt worth it unless you freeze some.

No one in my city breeds rats to sell in my city so I would freeze the ones I don't use and probably sell them off.

A BP can slam a whole litter of baby rats like you would an order of McNuggets.

When I have too many, I just feed off the babies quickly. (like as soon as they have fur.)

Of course, having a pair of Monitors helps bunches.

That's a good idea my large boa needs bigger rats so ill have to raise some of them to a bigger size.



To avoid all this how difficult is it to switch to frozen thawed? I'm assuming it depends on the snake but I'd like to hear if anyone else has done it and how long it took

[dinosaurdammit]

No one in my city breeds rats to sell in my city so I would freeze the ones I don't use and probably sell them off.



That's a good idea my large boa needs bigger rats so ill have to raise some of them to a bigger size.



To avoid all this how difficult is it to switch to frozen thawed? I'm assuming it depends on the snake but I'd like to hear if anyone else has done it and how long it took

my female boa, the owner stated: "she wont eat f/t"

First feed gave her a f/t and she struck it. I did wait 3 weeks however so she was hungry for it. Ive never had a problem switching over.

[infernalis]

To avoid all this how difficult is it to switch to frozen thawed? I'm assuming it depends on the snake but I'd like to hear if anyone else has done it and how long it took

I have never had a problem.

Wait a week (small snakes) or 2-3 weeks (Large snakes)

Offer by dangling it from tongs by the tail near the front opening of the snake's hide spot, Usually within a moment's time the food is taken.

Hunger is a powerful motivation.

[Jendee]

boas have a strong feeding response they'll get it after a few trys.... heard bps are finicky feeders...

[infernalis]

they are pregnant for 23 days...average 12 babies (mine do anyway) wean the babies at 20 days then do it over. lol it take 3 to 4 months for those baby to reach a good small size or a small medium.in the mean time u have to care for them all....

I would miss my Rat Colonies.

They are fascinating animals, I never have to wait long for babies, but then again I have well over a dozen producing females, I see new litters almost daily.

I tend to cull off excessive males, or put them on Craig's list.

[Corey209]

my female boa, the owner stated: "she wont eat f/t"

First feed gave her a f/t and she struck it. I did wait 3 weeks however so she was hungry for it. Ive never had a problem switching over.

I'll try to feed frozen thawed next week. All three were raised on live/prekilled so I'm not sure how it will go but I know pet smart sells frozen rats so if they eat ill order some.

[Jendee]

I actually enjoy messing with genetics and morphs haha even tho they all end up in a stomach at some point, it's fun lol I even belong to rat forums although i'm a but dishonest well...more like I don't share the entire story lol

[Jay]

I actually enjoy messing with genetics and morphs haha even tho they all end up in a stomach at some point, it's fun lol I even belong to rat forums although i'm a but dishonest well...more like I don't share the entire story lol

Awesome. Could you imagine the wolf pack over there.

[Jendee]

lol ya that would be ugly I think id be ban hammered instantly lols

[exwizard]

With 3 snakes, 1 breeding group consisting of 1.4 rats is more than enough to make sure you will always have enough food. Considering that litters range from 5-14 rats, females cycling every 5 days, gestation being 3 weeks and 3 weeks until they wean, at the very least, you will need to use 3 feeders a week. What this tells me is that even with just 1 breeding group, you will have plenty of excess to sell and this is always a good thing.

[infernalis]

I actually enjoy messing with genetics and morphs haha even tho they all end up in a stomach at some point, it's fun lol I even belong to rat forums although i'm a but dishonest well...more like I don't share the entire story lol

I do the same.

I do have a soft spot when the rare hairless rat pops up, I keep them as pets.

[Corey209]

I do the same.

I do have a soft spot when the rare hairless rat pops up, I keep them as pets.

My brother was going to feed a hairless rat to one of his snakes and his wife stole it then kept it as a pet. Once she saw how much they were breeding when she put a male in she got rid of them.. haha