Questions About Breeding Feeder Mice

[NeverLift]

Have you thought about African soft furred rats?

[SerpentineDream]

Originally Posted by NeverLift

Have you thought about African soft furred rats?

Hmmm, do tell.

Are African soft furred rats about the same size / nutritional profile as mice or more like standard rats? What are they like to raise?

Husband is not allergic to my pet rats and had hamsters as a kid, so his allergy appears to be specific to mice. Perhaps trying a different species would work out.

If they are similar in intelligence and personality to domesticated rats I won't be able to kill them. I really like rats and can only do F/T. It was hard enough killing the mice even though they're bitey, dirty and none too bright. It was humane and very quick for them but I still felt like a total schmuck for doing it.

I also am not sure where to find unusual rodents. We're in the boonies and it can be hard to find exotic animals or even ordinary rodents of both genders in the pet shops. I hit pay dirt getting my hands on male and female mice at Petco.

[NeverLift]

Originally Posted by SerpentineDream

Hmmm, do tell.

Are African soft furred rats about the same size / nutritional profile as mice or more like standard rats? What are they like to raise?

Husband is not allergic to my pet rats and had hamsters as a kid, so his allergy appears to be specific to mice. Perhaps trying a different species would work out.

If they are similar in intelligence and personality to domesticated rats I won't be able to kill them. I really like rats and can only do F/T. It was hard enough killing the mice even though they're bitey, dirty and none too bright. It was humane and very quick for them but I still felt like a total schmuck for doing it.

I also am not sure where to find unusual rodents. We're in the boonies and it can be hard to find exotic animals or even ordinary rodents of both genders in the pet shops. I hit pay dirt getting my hands on male and female mice at Petco.

They get to be about twice the size of a mouse. They breed every bit as fast as mice. The best part, they smell way less! True they are kind of specialty, I found them on craigslist, you can try searching there, kingsnake, fauna, facebook groups.
heres some good reading about them
African Soft-Furred Rat :: Metal Monkey Exotics