Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, I'm trying to start my own breeding colony, since my collection is growing. Rats of any size at my local pet shop are $4.99 each. :/

I might try f/t sometime, but I want to experiment with creating my own colony.

I tried a mouse colony. I bought 5 mice from my local pet shop. Ends up, they're all boys. The breeder who sends them to the shop sends out mostly males, because he/she wants to keep the females for breeding purposed. Makes sense, but I didn't think about it when buying them.

So there I was, for 2-3 weeks waiting for some pinks. Didn't get any, and I noticed they all had testicles. Makes me feel like an idiot.

Anyways, I hear that rats are a little bit easier to "breed". I also hear they don't stink as bad as mice (JESUS those mice stank, that and the fact that they weren't producing is why we just got rid of them. Tried my adult Balls, but they are all off feed...so we just let them go far behind out house), and they seem to put more on the snakes.

I'll be getting a pair today, and I'll make sure 1's a male and 1's a female, but I'm not sure how much they'll produce. I don't need too many, but enough to grow up and "re-breed", feed my babies, and maybe provide for some fellow snake-keeping friends. If I need to get 1.2, so be it. By the way, I have 3 adults and 1 baby, but my collection is rapidly growing. $15 a week may be nothing to some of you, but I have a "part-time" job, and it's a lot to me.

Thanks for your time,

Ryan

This is one of the reasons so many stupid laws are passed every year. When you release a domestic animal (yes~ the mice you bought at a pet shop are domesticated) into the wild you jepordize not only the animal you released but also the ecosystem you released it into.

BEST case secenario~ the mice die almost imediatly due to lack of survival skills or predation.

WORST case scenario~
1. the mice could introduce disease to the wild population that the wild population can not cope with~ descimating the wild mouse population and removing food sources for predators.

2. The mice could breed with wild mice~ inroducing odd colors and lack of human fear~ wich would decimate the wild population and remove the food source for wild predators.

3. Some PETA or HSUS nut may find a colony of white wild mice~ figure out that some idiot is releasing domestic mice~ and introduce legislation attemtping to make it illegal to sell domestic mice to the general public~ "Becuase some idiot may release them to the wild"

Please do not release domestic animals to the wild.
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Cheryl Marchek
AKA JM
Check out my website at:
The Red Dragons Den

but what am I supposed to do with them then? The snakes won't eat them, I can't keep them,and I can't let them go...

Hmm...

Thanks again for the information,

Ryan

You kill them and put them in a zip lock bag in the freezer. They are available to you later when your snakes are eating or you can give them to a friend who also has snakes. But I agree... Never release ANY domesticated animal into the wild. Most (maybe all) states have laws against doing so.

Mark

>>but what am I supposed to do with them then? The snakes won't eat them, I can't keep them,and I can't let them go...
>>
>>Hmm...
>>
>>Thanks again for the information,
>>
>>Ryan

buy them from you - prob. not get much but at least you should be able to get rid of them in a ' helpful ' way.

Thanks anyways guys, I gotta book on it.

I bought a pair of rats,(1.1 for sure this time) and I ended up buying a book on them. My sister, (who watches some anime where a guy turns into a rat) now has a new little friend. I did want to keep him for breeding, but she absolutly loves him . She even said it could be an early birthday present. Looks like I'll be back to get another male...but I do kind of feel bad giving a rat to my sister as an birthday present. Lol I'll get her something else too when the time comes.

I would have killed the mice and put them in a freezer, but my parents wouldn't let me. They don't like the idea of dead mice so near the food we eat...
Was looking into a compact freezer, but if this breeding goes alright, I don't think I'll need one.

Thanks for your input,
Ryan

Ryan, We have a colony of about 50-100 breeding adult female rats and my experience is as follows:

1) In 30 days the babies rats will reach about 60-70 grams in size....we use Harlen Pellets for food. If you feeding live, that 50-60 gram area is optimal because they are much less likely to hurt your adult snake. If I have a bigger snake I will give them multiple smaller meals. I will go as high as 90 gram rats for my big females.

2) It will take about 3 month to get a breeding female rat up to the appropriate size. They may breed sooner then this but it's not optimal. So on your 4th month you should get your first litter.....give or take.

3) the average litter size is 10-12....although they can be much larger or smaller....we have had litters in the 20 plus. But do your math based on 10-12. We cycle are breeding female out. Eventually, if you keep breeding the same female, her production will go down over time. Therefore, we continually hold back and raise up new females to replace the older and keep the production high.

Just a few thoughts....good luck....
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Jim Perron
Python Passion Reptiles
pythonpassion@hotmail.com
www.pythonpassionreptiles.com