questions about breeding feeders.

kayleegrace · 08-09-10, 11:22 PM

okay. it has officially been enough for me. haha i have three snakes. i am only 14 and cant get a job besides babysitting once in a while. sadly. and my folks are not quite into snakes. so i have to use my own money on everything. so 15 bucks a week is getting to be a little much for me. if i have to i can make it happen. however. i am also trying to save for bigger vivs... for all three.
anyway to get to my point. i want to start breeding rats. i pretty much know diddley about breeding anything so... any advice helps...
also something important is temps because they may need to be outside.
if that wont work. i have a few other solutions. but anything helps.

thanks,

Kaylee

percey39 · 08-09-10, 11:54 PM

Okay rats are incredibly easy to breed. The only time i ever have difficulties is during summer as they wont breed when it is too hot. Other than that i have 2 males and 7 females to share between them, this gets me loads and loads of rats very quickly. You have to have a cage big enough for them to run around in or else they just get fat.
Also you have to clean and feed these guys every day so they are a little bit of work. I use shredded paper as a substrate as its cheap and very easy.

kayleegrace · 08-09-10, 11:59 PM

okay what about temps. could i keep them outside all year? we have a shed in the back yard that is pretty much empty. but it stays dry. however where i live winters can be unpredictable.
and what about caging. gee i have more questions than i thought.

percey39 · 08-10-10, 12:06 AM

I keep my guys out in the shed all year round, during summer i put ice in their water to makes sure its cold. We have a lot of frosts in the mornings here and snow around 40 minutes away during winter, these guys will sleep in a huddle and underneath the shredded paper for warmth.
With cages i have one for a three of my females to go in when they are heavily pregnant, this is only small the other is a 6x2x2 tin cage with a wire roof. I also have a nursary for some of the babies to grow in. A lot of people dont keep them in a cage that size, but i feel they get too fat in anything smaller than that for the amount of adult rats i keep. Between those 9 rats i get plenty more than ineed and end up selling them off to friends for next to nothing. Some of the females have 15 young each time they breed. I have had nearly 100 babies born at the same time by all these females.

kayleegrace · 08-10-10, 12:24 AM

Okayso if I am going to breed how many cages do I need?
And in the winter where I live it van get below 10 degrees once In a whilemits below 0.
And what do unthink about tubs. Like the translucent kind with snap shut lids... Very cheap and he hold heat very well... But can they chew through?

And thanks for all the help so far guys it's greatly appreciated

percey39 · 08-10-10, 12:30 AM

You will need at least 2 cages as you should seperate the females form the males once they are obviously pregnant. The males may eat the young as they want more sex and the females wont be interested.
We have had nights that have hit 0 here this last few weeks and they are all fine, as long as they are not in the open outside with these temps they will be fine.
The plastic tubs could be used, but i would suggest to buy/make a cage from chicken wire or smaller. This stops them from escaping as the last thing your parents will want is a rat infesation as well, also using those could lead to high humidity in summer.

kayleegrace · 08-10-10, 12:39 AM

Okay! Well. I have a four ft bp and he eats about 5 in rats. So when the pups get weined do I just put them with the rest of the females or males? And I saw quite a few 20 gallon tanks for sale at the pet store for 20 bucks. They have screen tops and they are glass. Will this work?

percey39 · 08-10-10, 01:00 AM

Yeah they would be fine for cages for the rats. I would up the size of the rats you feed your bp if he is eating 5 in one go. Once they are weaned i put them in a seperate tank to the adults so they get their food and water as if they are competing like my males always do they get left out. For three snakes one male and three females will keep you in constant supply after you breed the first three litters up. Females are ready to breed straight after dropping a litter.

Pythonian · 08-10-10, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by percey39

Yeah they would be fine for cages for the rats. I would up the size of the rats you feed your bp if he is eating 5 in one go. Once they are weaned i put them in a seperate tank to the adults so they get their food and water as if they are competing like my males always do they get left out. For three snakes one male and three females will keep you in constant supply after you breed the first three litters up. Females are ready to breed straight after dropping a litter.

I don't think kaylee meant 5 in one go, but 1 5 inch rat

kayleegrace · 08-10-10, 08:07 AM

Okay... So three cages? I am a little confused

kayleegrace · 08-10-10, 08:10 AM

Oh and I meant 5 inch rats haha I guess I forgot the inch haha

percey39 · 08-10-10, 08:28 AM

Haha oops my bad sorry, i read that totally wrong. I would use three cages as to seperate your weaners from the adults, but its up to you. They would be fine in with the adults but i still seperate mine. Remeber rats breed incredibly quick and as soon as they are done with weaners they will be pregnant a few hours-a day after putting them back with the males.

kayleegrace · 08-10-10, 08:33 AM

So I can keep a pregnant female with the other females? And would it work to put a barrier in the male cage and put the weinlings...

percey39 · 08-10-10, 08:41 AM

Yes females with females are generaly very good together as long as there is plenty of food available they will be fine. The weanlings should be fine with your adults, i have just personally noticed my males compete againts the young ones with food and water. You could put a barrier in, buy another tank or house all together all of these should be fine just watch when you first put the weanlings in.

kayleegrace · 08-10-10, 08:43 AM

Okay. That's pretty much all I need to know. Thanks guys.