The Cost of Feeders

backafter30 · 03-05-13, 06:34 PM

I'm just getting started with snakes again. I haven't had any for a few decades, but I really like the whole F/T mouse thing. I am curious, however, about how the cost can add up over time. I'd be interested to hear how much it costs per month to feed various snake collections. How many snakes do you have, and what kinds, do you brumate them, and what do you spend on feeders? Also, if you breed, how much of the feeder cost are you able to re-coup by selling the babies? Thanks!

robertjnovak59 · 03-05-13, 06:55 PM

I've got 2 corns, 2 columbian boas
and a ball python. I've been breeding
mice and rats, I sell enough to cover the
cost of the rodents food and bedding.
The worst part is the time it takes to
care for them and clean the tanks.
If you dont clean them once a week,
the smell gets pretty bad.

backafter30 · 03-05-13, 07:16 PM

Thanks Robert, I am familiar with that smell. I raised all my own rodents for the snakes I used to have, and in college I cared for a school collection of venomous snakes and various lizards, along with their mouse and rat breeding rooms. I realize that I can breed my own and save money, but that is exactly what I do NOT wish to re-live again. (I can still smell it.) How cool is it to be able to thaw a mousicle and by-pass all the mess and headache, huh? But the cost for that convenience? That's what I'm looking for.

BTW, I can see me having a considerable collection, eventually. Not just a few, but maybe dozens, or who knows? I tend to get carried away. It depends on how much fun I'm having and how successful I am, but I've done this before, so do have some idea of what I'm getting into. Except for the cost...

backafter30 · 03-05-13, 07:20 PM

Oh, wow, Stephan. Thank you for sharing and confirming why I'm not going to get into the big guys. Rabbits are expensive! I tend to collect "one of everything", so I'm going to stay away from Retics, Burms, and the like. (I did have a retic in high school. Kinda unpredictable, but cool. Got rid of it before it got too big.)

robertjnovak59 · 03-05-13, 07:36 PM

I didn't plan on breeding, but my
roommate lost her job bout a year
ago and one thing led to another.
But, im glad I did. Its nice have a
self supporting hobby. And that's
why im staying away from big Snakes,
I dont want to breed rabbits. Lol

stephanbakir · 03-05-13, 07:11 PM

Rabbits, 10$ per week per snake, 3 snakes so 120$/month

Corey209 · 03-05-13, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

Rabbits, 10$ per week per snake, 3 snakes so 120$/month

With larger snakes, why not feed every 2 weeks?

Gravelanche · 03-05-13, 07:39 PM

it all depends on what you can find locally, and if you have the storage to buy in bulk, for my babies i can buy a fair bit in advance, for my 5 foot ball i buy about 4 at a time from the pet shop nearby.

at the end of the day i just sit back and remember, its still cheaper than owning a dog XD

exwizard · 03-05-13, 08:33 PM

Between 2 collections; mine with 33, soon to be 36, plus Rmf's 21, that's 56 now, soon to be 59 snakes, my feed bill is $250 per month apr. I used to breed my own, running a constant stock of at least 400 rats and 150 mice, but now I just pay for what I need every week, so yeah, about $250 per week.

exwizard · 03-06-13, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exwizard

Between 2 collections; mine with 33, soon to be 36, plus Rmf's 21, that's 56 now, soon to be 59 snakes, my feed bill is $250 per month apr. I used to breed my own, running a constant stock of at least 400 rats and 150 mice, but now I just pay for what I need every week, so yeah, about $250 per week.

Sorry, I just saw that. I meant per month.

KORBIN5895 · 03-05-13, 11:21 PM

I sell frozen rodents so my feed bill is covered by the sales. Look into ordering bulk online.

Gravelanche · 03-05-13, 11:29 PM

if the snake is big enough maybe the rabit doesnt constitute a "full size" meal, after rabbits you cant really go up much more without the neighbors dog dissapearing.

Corey209 · 03-05-13, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravelanche

if the snake is big enough maybe the rabit doesnt constitute a "full size" meal, after rabbits you cant really go up much more without the neighbors dog dissapearing.

You can feed pigs or multiple meals at one time.

stephanbakir · 03-05-13, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

With larger snakes, why not feed every 2 weeks?

I feed a rabbit a week but its a small rabbit compared to what the snake is capable of eating. That and my snakes are still under 2 years old so I have only slowed down their food intake once (fed every 4 days for a year, then 7 days for a year, then once every 2 weeks for the rest of their lives)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravelanche

if the snake is big enough maybe the rabit doesnt constitute a "full size" meal, after rabbits you cant really go up much more without the neighbors dog dissapearing.

I plan for them to get big, but you don't need to feed massive meals to get a big snake, I want a big snake but I dont want a big fat snake.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

You can feed pigs or multiple meals at one time.

Problem with pigs in Canada is the demand is low, so the supply is low, what do you do when they run out? I'd rather feed something that is in good supply