Which rats to breed?

[xxxxdopeyxxxx]

I'm wanting to start a 1.1 breeding "colony" to feed my 2 bps. I know this isn't cost efficient I would just like to try it for fun. My question is what is the best type of rat to breed? Should I just use dumbos from PetsMart or PetCo? I was also thinking of just holding one of the feeders I get from a local pet store and using them. (Granted they are mostly males. Could I use a feeder male and a dumbo?)I was also looking at ASFs but I don't know of any places to get them around here. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[sassy-pants]

It depends, how big are your balls? Fancy rats can grow very large, and will likely outgrow your balls quickly. If your snakes will take f/t, breeding your own and freezing them when they reach size would be a viable option.

BTW, Feeder rats = fancy rats = dumbo rats (dumbo is a "morph," just a different style of ear) and they can all be mixed. Be careful to choose healthy looking and clean rats.

If I were you, I'd definitely go with a 1.2 of ASF rats instead of fancies, since those won't outgrow your snake. You could post up on Craigslist or here seeking ASFs to get your starter colony. ASFs are also very thrifty eaters, so that's always a plus. Just make sure the food is in a hopper, or else they'll play with it and eliminate in it, wasting a lot of food.

I breed both, but I prefer the fancy rats (I have lots of larger ball pythons that would need 2-5 adult asfs/meal, so fancies are more economical.) The fancy rats also tend to have better temperaments and will quickly steal your heart When you have more/larger snakes, the fancy rats would be the way to go, but for just 2, ASFs are a better choice.

[RichsBallPythons]

It depends, how big are your balls? Fancy rats can grow very large, and will likely outgrow your balls quickly. If your snakes will take f/t, breeding your own and freezing them when they reach size would be a viable option.

BTW, Feeder rats = fancy rats = dumbo rats (dumbo is a "morph," just a different style of ear) and they can all be mixed. Be careful to choose healthy looking and clean rats.

If I were you, I'd definitely go with a 1.2 of ASF rats instead of fancies, since those won't outgrow your snake. You could post up on Craigslist or here seeking ASFs to get your starter colony.

If you only have 2 snakes id advise away form ASF. Ball pythons imprint way too much on one thing far too often. And they can breed way more than a beginner could handle if your not wanting Many. Also with ASF you cant separate the male and reintroduce him like mice/rats. The females kill the Male ASF.

Your common rat(Norway Rat) grow to be large as males(600g) and females about (250g). I would get 1.2 going of the rats to breed and you should be set if the male is good. Be sure when ever starting always get weaned rats so you can grow them out to be healthy.

All my females i keep back i let grow for 3-4 months before i breed them.

[matt71915]

If you only have 2 snakes id advise away form ASF. Ball pythons imprint way too much on one thing far too often. And they can breed way more than a beginner could handle if your not wanting Many. Also with ASF you cant separate the male and reintroduce him like mice/rats. The females kill the Male ASF.

To the OP, i have persnally had success reintroducing males back into a colony and putting a totally new male into a colony. All i do is introduce the new male to the colony in a holding tub while im cleaning their tub that's in my rack, then put them all back. I haven't seen any problems doing it this way so far.

[AMPearce]

I'm wanting to start a 1.1 breeding "colony" to feed my 2 bps. I know this isn't cost efficient I would just like to try it for fun. My question is what is the best type of rat to breed? Should I just use dumbos from PetsMart or PetCo? I was also thinking of just holding one of the feeders I get from a local pet store and using them. (Granted they are mostly males. Could I use a feeder male and a dumbo?)I was also looking at ASFs but I don't know of any places to get them around here. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I've been breading rats for a few of months for my bps. Not enough to feed my snakes but it's been fun but it is alot of work, even with only 1.2, like I have. I've only had three litters so far and it's cool but I may quit because it's exactly cost effective, almost all my bps are on f/t anyways and I don't have enough space to breed enough to fill my need, not to mention my gf hates them more then the pythons. My bps are in my room and the rats are in my bathroom. Also one of the females loves to chew threw tubs and I've had to replace them a couple of times. I've thought about building a rack to add some more, but I'm thinking about making the newest litter my last one. Whatever you decide to do good luck, it is pretty cool and the baby rats are super cute.

[RichsBallPythons]

I've been breading rats for a few of months for my bps. Not enough to feed my snakes but it's been fun but it is alot of work, even with only 1.2, like I have. I've only had three litters so far and it's cool but I may quit because it's exactly cost effective, almost all my bps are on f/t anyways and I don't have enough space to breed enough to fill my need, not to mention my gf hates them more then the pythons. My bps are in my room and the rats are in my bathroom. Also one of the females loves to chew threw tubs and I've had to replace them a couple of times. I've thought about building a rack to add some more, but I'm thinking about making the newest litter my last one. Whatever you decide to do good luck, it is pretty cool and the baby rats are super cute.

Thats the first time i heard rodent breeding to be a lot of work.

Breeding rodents is fairly easy once they are in proper setup. Costs me $50 a month in food and bedding to breed 400+ mice a month.

Also takes the right food for proper production. If oyu feed the pet store garbage you get crappy results.

[AMPearce]

Thats the first time i heard rodent breeding to be a lot of work.

Breeding rodents is fairly easy once they are in proper setup. Costs me $50 a month in food and bedding to breed 400+ mice a month.

Also takes the right food for proper production. If oyu feed the pet store garbage you get crappy results.

Well compared to bp's it's a lot of work. I guess it's not really "a lot of work" but it does take some time. I'm in college and most the times when I come home I don't want to have to deal with them, I would rather be spending time with my snakes. 1.1 is easily manageable but you gotta keep in mind refilling water bottles, feeding, cleaning cages etc. I don't have a great setup but for my limited space it's all I can manage, that's why I'm probably just gonna stop breeding.

[AMPearce]

Thats the first time i heard rodent breeding to be a lot of work.

Breeding rodents is fairly easy once they are in proper setup. Costs me $50 a month in food and bedding to breed 400+ mice a month.

Also takes the right food for proper production. If oyu feed the pet store garbage you get crappy results.

Okay I think we have misunderstood each other a little bit. I agree the actual process of breeding rats is very easy (put a male with a female and let him do his thing). I was just refering to the extra time put into cleaning cages, changing water etc. as the "hard part." I guess it's really not that hard it's just time consuming. With a better set up it would probably be less time consuming for me but I don't want to spend the time right now to build one. Also I am a little cramped for space so that makes it a little more of a challenge. I wasn't trying to sound to negative (although rereading I did sound pretty negative) I was just giving my personal experience with rat beeding/keeping. It is very rewarding to do though and I'm sure I will do it again in the future but for now I think I'm gonna put that on hold. Hopes this cleared things up a bit.