Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ALL of the Petco and Petsmart stores in an area larger than I can find around the DC area have stopped carrying rodents until further notice! I spoke with a friend of mine that works at one and she said they found some animals had contracted AIDS and the discontinued using the breeder. Now I may have to resort to ordering food on-line. I'm not to excited about Rodent Pro's prices and haven't been to a show in awhile. Anyone use a cheaper source? I had a guy locally but he's become unreliable.
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

What's so bad about ordering rodents online? Paying Petco's prices is still far more costly that online with shipping costs added.
And in my local herp store, they get $8.99 for a large rat.
I pay less than 1/3 that ordering online.
Last week, collosal rats were on sale for $1.99 each, on orders over 34 of them. Yes pricey when you multiply them.
But still far cheaper than the pet shops.
For me, even driving to shows now is going to be more costly than ordering online. My closest show is about 50 miles away. Meaning about 10 gals of gas for me, and show admission.
About 35.00 total, or about the same as UPS shipping. And nowhere near the selection I can get online, although my show bought rodents are of high quaility.

I already checked the prices at Rodent pro and they are more than twice what I was paying for rabbits. I was paying $1.10 per pound but the guy I was buying from isn't returning calls. I bought 2 rex's for breeding but they are still youngins. I figure I'm at least 4 months away from anything usable. I quit going to the shows once I found a somewhat local supplier so I don't know what they go for anymore. I'm going to the one in VA tomorrow to get about 6 months worth.
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

Not AIDS, but some sort of menengitis I believe. The suplier is out of southern Ohio. Am having the same problem getting rats here in Michigan. Oh Well, rodent Pro here I come .

Quig

This is yet just another reason to breed your own.

Once you add up the cost of food, and bedding, I spend around $0.25 per rat up to a small one. I spend about $30.00 a month on food and bedding, and get 120 rats a month adv. Now the cost does get higher as they get bigger, but even then it is still less the on-line.

I know not everyone can breed their own, but if you have the room and time I think it is well worth it.

I worked there for about two months. The facility was called Mid-South Distributors. They were located in Norwich, OH. about an hour and 15 minutes east of Columbus. The disease is called LCMV. I can't remember exactly what that stood for but it was a disease which targeted the lymphocytes in the blood and affected the immune system. Hence the rumor of AIDS I'm sure. To ease your worries, people who are in good health can fight off this virus with little or no symptoms at all. The only people who are really at risk from this are people who already suffer from aids or are on immuno-depressant drugs such as organ donors. Also I have since done some research and have found that this disease has no effect on snakes. This place had horrible husbandry tactics and the living conditions of the animals were deplorable. I thought I had found a really cool job but it turned out I couldn't stand to work there with the conditions the way they were. Anyway sorry so long