Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 4 ball python sub adults, 2 spotted python adults, a handful of colubrids, and an adult hog nose. I am considering starting a breeding colony of rats to feed them. I'm feeding 4 large rats and 7 medium to small rats per week. I want to keep the operation as small and stink free as possible. I've read about African furry rats and they sound the most appealing since my ball pythons go off feed at times.

The real question is how many adult males do you think I need? How many females to maintain the quantities I will need weekly? Is it it a better idea to breed out big batches at once and freeze them all back for the year? All but 1 python will take f/t or live.

Are these mail order breeder lab rats worth the price if they produce sooo many at once? Anyone prefer a particular lab breeder?

Well ican help with some answers.

African Soft Rats due produce less odor then rats and mice. They are much meaner then normal rats and mice and produces less per litter. They also grow only to the size of a large small, small medium size compared to normal rats.

If odor is an issue then I recommend using rodent blocks and paper pelleted bedding. Rodent formula offers a better feed for your feeders and a lower amonia output from them. Paper pelleted is super absorbant and eliminates all the odor from their discharge. I clean my rats once every two weeks with little to no smell.

As for breeding, I breed extra to stock my freezer. I own over a dozen balls of various size. I produce about 100 to 200 rodents a week and freeze them when they are the right size.

Always start off heavy with females. I personally breed one male to every twenty rats. With the male daily rotating through five females at a time. Once the next generation is big enough a purchase a new male for breeding.

Hope this helps

"Are these mail order breeder lab rats worth the price if they produce sooo many at once?"

If you have the time & space to raise your own you'll save a few bucks. If you're a busy person with little free time, and can afford it, you'll most likely be better off to buy frozen rodents. I think it comes down to what you have the most of - time or money?

I've no experience with ASF so I can't help you there. Maybe I've been breeding rats too long......, but, I think that if you take care of them like we're supposed to (and very few of us actually do 100% of the time), rats don't have enough of an odor to be concerned with. Mice, on the other hand, do.

Have a good one!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com