Rat breeding

Corey209 · 01-06-13, 08:50 PM

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** · 01-06-13, 08:57 PM

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/food-...-breeding.html

jarich · 01-06-13, 09:01 PM

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 · 01-06-13, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 01-06-13, 09:16 PM

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** · 01-06-13, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 01-06-13, 09:20 PM

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

dinosaurdammit · 01-06-13, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

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 · 01-06-13, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

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.

Corey209 · 01-06-13, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinosaurdammit

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

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 · 01-06-13, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

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.

Corey209 · 01-06-13, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinosaurdammit

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.

infernalis · 01-06-13, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

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 · 01-06-13, 09:47 PM

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....

infernalis · 01-06-13, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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....

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.