Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a two foot black throat and he is flying through the mice i buy him and it is starting to cost me alot to feed him. I was wondering if anyone could answer my questions to help me start breeding.
1) How many rats/mice will i get from one pair of parents.
2) how long does it take the babies to get fully grown.
3)what is the best diet to raise big healthy feeders.
4) should males females and babies be seperated after breeding.
5) what are the best size rats to breed.
6)is there any other important things i should know?

Mice:

Breeding age: about 6-8 weeks of age
Litter size: 8-12
Gestation period: about 21 days
Weaned: 3-4 weeks
Males should be separated from the females at 4 weeks of age
Females can be separated from their mothers at 4 weeks of age.

The females can be left with their mother but better to separate them at 4 weeks to ensure their father doesn't impregnant them. Inbreeding for a few generations is fine but too much can weaken the genepool too much.

Food: 19% min Protein and 8% min fat dog or cat food is alright (find one with no dyes or preservatives is best). ALso mix in a budgee seed mix and raw sunflower seeds and cracked corn, for a bit of variety. Whole grain unsweetened cerials are nice too (ie cheerials, Total cerial).

Rats:

Breeding Age: 4-6 months
Litter Size: 10-18
Gestation Period: 21-25 days
Weaned: 3-4 weeks
Males should be separated from females by 4 weeks of age.

Everything else is same as mice

Note on mice:
Male mice produce a strong musk odour that can get rather unpleasant to some people. Vanilla extract (artifical is fine) mixed into their water (about one drop to gallon of water) tends to help keep down the smell of males, though I personally haven't noticed any difference when I use this mixture or not.

Male Rats do not have this same musk.

>>I have a two foot black throat and he is flying through the mice i buy him and it is starting to cost me alot to feed him. I was wondering if anyone could answer my questions to help me start breeding.
>>1) How many rats/mice will i get from one pair of parents.
>>2) how long does it take the babies to get fully grown.
>>3)what is the best diet to raise big healthy feeders.
>>4) should males females and babies be seperated after breeding.
>>5) what are the best size rats to breed.
>>6)is there any other important things i should know?

To add to LdyPayne's very thorough response.
Your black throat is not gonna shrink but he will grow. Mice stink. Rats will get to feed off size much more quickly for you.(couple weeks vs a couple months) If you are only feeding the monitor I would go with rats. Male rats can be moved group to group, where mice can't. You can feed them a cheap dog kibble that DOES NOT have dyes. Or you can go with lab block that is more expense and less palatable and I have not had luck with it, but others have.
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Sonya

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