Breeding rats

pet_snake_78 · 06-27-17, 07:33 PM

Live fuzzies have proven very useful in my collection but it gets old running around to a couple of different stores to get enough of them, so I decided to embark on producing some of what I need myself. I picked up two pregnant rats and a male. My hope is that they all get along and I cut back on a trip or two a month while I try to get the various holdouts eating f/t steady.

Doug 351 · 06-29-17, 07:24 AM

I just recently got a male and female hooded rat with the same idea...( although I'll have to grow the babies out a bit.)

For a while, I thought they were trying to kill each other. Then I realized they were just playing. They make great pets, too. I take at least one of them out every day and let them crawl all over me, and pet them when they hold still enough.

They have both nibbled on me...( my hair, I guess...never felt any pain or broken skin). Gracie has licked me.

They are the most curious critters, they have to explore everything.

When I first got George, he pooped on me. Since then, neither of them has ever messed on me in any way.

I'm still waiting for babies!!!!

Scubadiver59 · 06-29-17, 10:24 AM

Do you plan on feeding live? Or are you planning on euthanizing? If so, what method are you going to use?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pet_snake_78

Live fuzzies have proven very useful in my collection but it gets old running around to a couple of different stores to get enough of them, so I decided to embark on producing some of what I need myself. I picked up two pregnant rats and a male. My hope is that they all get along and I cut back on a trip or two a month while I try to get the various holdouts eating f/t steady.

pet_snake_78 · 07-01-17, 06:03 AM

I feed them live. The only reason I have to run to the store is because some animals I have will only reliably eat live but slowly they are being converted one holdout at a time.

pet_snake_78 · 07-04-17, 11:31 AM

Rats eat even more than I imagined. I am going to keep the trio I have, but probably not grow out any new ones. They are going through food like crazy and take up a lot of space. Also I kind of like the little boogers, whereas I tend to view mice along the same lines as crickets lol

Doug 351 · 07-04-17, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pet_snake_78

Rats eat even more than I imagined. I am going to keep the trio I have, but probably not grow out any new ones. They are going through food like crazy and take up a lot of space. Also I kind of like the little boogers, whereas I tend to view mice along the same lines as crickets lol

WOW! Some very astute observations, which I tend to agree with. I've been feeding Tropical Carnival Gourmet Food. I raised a LOT of mice on it....( both pets , breeders, and feeders.)

I am a bit shocked: Ummm...yeah....they're twice as big as mice....( why do they eat 4 times as much?)

They ARE however, 4 times as much fun.

BTW: My snake WILL eat F/T. Now... I know some people are going to hate me out of pure jealousy... ( I can't blame them!)

I live within easy driving distance of The Big Cheese Rodent Factory. ( Google it: ridiculously low prices....and I don't have to pay ANY shipping!)