I know that in-breeding is not really seen as an issue by most feeder breeders.
However, after seeing my mice get that skinny disease, I have decided to add new blood lines. This is just for peace of mind. I am going to get mice from many sources and unrelated sources and have generations of unrelated mice breed.
I already got some mice from one pet store. I got one male from Hamburg. I am also going to buy some fancy mice from Petco. I also have some mice left over from my original colony who didn't get the skinny disease (I am waiting to see if they get pregnant).
In case you are wonder what is "skinny disease" It is a disease where the females get skinny and hunch backed and dont' get pregnant. Sick Sh!t Seldom Survive and I fed the skinny ones off.
I am doing the same mixing of genes with rats. This is kind of a cool story: I bought some rat pups so I can feed my snakes. These were bought @ Hamburg. I threw them in with my rat mom who is currently nursing weanlings. The rat mom adopted them. I have decided to let some of these Hamburg orphaned pups grow to adulthood. Isn't that cool? It is a cheap way to get new gene lines into your colony. $.75 I paid for each. These pups will grow up to be unrelated adults. I like the idea of genetic variation. I know it isn't necessary for feeder rats, but I am kind of doing it just for the fun of it.
cheers.
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Longtang. I like snakes and rats.
