I use small lab tubs from Big Apple with 1.2's. The litters are bigger, more consistent, healthier and grow faster. A male can do a much better job with less females.

I have found that a 1.2 colony produces as many babies as a 1.3 or 1.4.

Less females = bigger litters, more litters and faster growth.
More females = smaller litters, less litters and slower growth.

Never add males or females to existing colonies! They will almost always fight and possibly kill and/or eat babies.

I always kill off colonies that go "bad".

For food, after trying it all and comparing the breeding results, growth rates of the mice and growth rates of my snakes, I have settled on a mix of Purina and or Harlan block and Volmann rat & mouse sprinkled on top of the block. The Volkmann is seeds, grains, fruits, etc.

Good luck.

Kevin

[ Hide Replies ]

• Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - thunderpaws, Wed Feb 17 21:59:12 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - prestigepythons, Wed Feb 17 22:18:20 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - thunderpaws, Wed Feb 17 22:27:08 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - prestigepythons, Wed Feb 17 22:29:35 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - thunderpaws, Wed Feb 17 22:32:32 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - prestigepythons, Wed Feb 17 22:38:22 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - thunderpaws, Wed Feb 17 22:52:04 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - PHLdyPayne, Wed Feb 17 23:25:54 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - thunderpaws, Thu Feb 18 00:10:32 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - Bolitochrome, Thu Feb 18 07:25:53 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - wynterborne, Thu Feb 18 07:55:03 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - thunderpaws, Thu Feb 18 10:27:17 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - CaliRepGuy, Thu Feb 18 14:56:19 2010
• Thanks Kevin...Excellent advice...NP - thunderpaws, Thu Feb 18 15:23:37 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - PHLdyPayne, Thu Feb 18 20:30:24 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - thunderpaws, Thu Feb 18 20:52:21 2010
• RE: Mice Group with the Male eating babies. - wynterborne, Thu Feb 18 21:17:49 2010
• eating babies. - JYohe, Thu Feb 18 18:00:05 2010
• RE: eating babies. - JYohe, Thu Feb 18 18:05:16 2010
• RE: eating babies. - wynterborne, Thu Feb 18 21:20:04 2010
• RE: eating babies. - wynterborne, Thu Feb 18 19:13:07 2010