How many colonies?

[heterohuman]

Hi all,

As my ball python collection continues to grow and grow, I am more and more considering starting some rat breeding colonies rather than buying their food as I am currently doing. I have 2 sort of "test" colonies currently, and even though I have been breeding them for a good few months now, I am really not sure how many colonies I am going to need in order to keep all of my balls feeding on a regular basis.

I currently have 23 ball pythons, about 10 of which are 200-400g and the rest of which are 800+g (all the way up to 2600g). My adults are fed many smaller rats rather than one large rat, also.

Does anyone have any advice? How many colonies and of what ratio, or just a general idea? Obviously my 2 test colonies (which are 1.2 and 1.3) are not enough, but I am just not sure what I will need. I am in the process of raising up many of my female babies from the litters that I have had since the mothers are spectacularly well tempered, great mothers, and throw large litters.

Thanks for any input!