Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think I'm going to consider breeding rats more. I use about 2 medium rats and 1 rat pup per week so rat breeding may be easier. I'm only 17, though, so I still live with my parents, and they don't like rats too much and prefer them already dead. I've asked if I could breed rats before, but my dad seems to think the cost of caring for them will be higher than buying them. I currently get mine from Rodentpro and pick them up in Evansville so the prices aren't bad, but driving 40 min. to there is pricey like shipping would be. Any suggestions on how to convince my parents?

Also, does killing rats ever get easier? I'm a vegan so killing anything is extremely hard for me. I guess if I bred them myself, though, at least I'd know they were taken care of properly.

Thanks!
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*Erin*

Driving 40 minutes is definitely not as expensive as having them shipped.

You have 3 snakes right, 2 adults and 1 subadult? Have you ever considered feeding them every other week, rather than every week. It's supposted to be healthier for the snakes and it will cut your costs in half.

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alstiver@hotmail.com

1.0 '01 Hypo snow cornsnake (Tesla)
0.1 '02 Ghost (pastel) cornsnake (Banshee)
1.1 '02 Bloodred cornsnakes (Desi and Luci Too)
1.0 WC Water snake (temporary pet - treating it for a cut on it's neck)
0.0.3 Goldfish (Kabuki, Isamu, and Yuki)
1.0 American Eskimo mutt (Rusty)

Yeah, I'll probably start doing that. The ball python sometimes won't take a rat every week anyway.

>>Driving 40 minutes is definitely not as expensive as having them shipped.
>>
>>You have 3 snakes right, 2 adults and 1 subadult? Have you ever considered feeding them every other week, rather than every week. It's supposted to be healthier for the snakes and it will cut your costs in half.
>>
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>>alstiver@hotmail.com
>>
>>1.0 '01 Hypo snow cornsnake (Tesla)
>>0.1 '02 Ghost (pastel) cornsnake (Banshee)
>>1.1 '02 Bloodred cornsnakes (Desi and Luci Too)
>>1.0 WC Water snake (temporary pet - treating it for a cut on it's neck)
>>0.0.3 Goldfish (Kabuki, Isamu, and Yuki)
>>1.0 American Eskimo mutt (Rusty)
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*Erin*

In a word, no, killing them does not get easier. However, you do get accustomed to doing it, and faster and more accurate. You simply do it, because you've chosen to keep an animal that requires that for food....whether you do it, or someone else does it, it still has to be done.

However, caring for rats is MUCH MUCH MUCH cheaper than buying them, that is why so many of us do it.

But either way, my snakes need to eat so no matter where I get the rats, they have to be dead anyway. At least if I breed my own, I can treat them good like pets until feeding time. Rats are cute, but of course I love my snakes also Where do you buy the food for your rats?

>>In a word, no, killing them does not get easier. However, you do get accustomed to doing it, and faster and more accurate. You simply do it, because you've chosen to keep an animal that requires that for food....whether you do it, or someone else does it, it still has to be done.
>>
>>However, caring for rats is MUCH MUCH MUCH cheaper than buying them, that is why so many of us do it.
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*Erin*

Rats aren't too hard to feed, either...I bought feed for mine in bulk, just a large bag of rolled feed made for livestock, at the feed store. It has rolled oats, and flaked barley and corn. I add a bit of dog or cat food to this, and some fresh dandelion greens (no chemicals used in my yard). You can also get commercial rodent blocks (lab blocks). Slightly more expensive, but a tested complete diet for them.