Display when selling rats

[ss10gotanks]

Im going to attempt to sells some of my rats as pets/feeders at the local flea market in the next couple of months. I was thinking about it and was wondering what kind of display should I keep them in? I dont want to use anything tacky, ide like it to look good, plus beable to protect the rats from the texas heat. Also what could i use give people to carry the rats the buy in? Input appreciated!

Thank you

[Lukestimp]

ZIP Lock Bags!

[Anatopism]

I've seen people use chinese food boxes (you know the little compressed paper boxes with the wire handles?) for sending mice and rats home in, but make sure you explain to people how sensitive they are to heat... and to make sure they get plenty of air, don't sit in sunlight, and if they have to make any stops before going home, to bring the inside with them. They go down really really fast in the heat, and I'm sure anybody buying a rat as food, unless they need it prekilled or frozen, would prefer it stay alive... even more so if bought as a pet.

I've seen rats and ASFs displayed in deep tubs or aquariums, The tubs are going to be lighter for the size, and probably appear cleaner than glass. Depending on how each is ventilated though, one might be better than the other if it is going to be really warm. You can also bring several frozen water bottles in a cooler, and put them in with the rats/change them out as they thaw, to keep them cooled down.

[Rhasputin]

I would go with a glass aquarium. Put frozen ice packs (the plastic blue kind, you know?) in, or under the cage. Under is better so they can't chew on it. This will give them the option of cooling off by laying on one.
Also a battery powered fan, would be useful.

I would suggest NOT selling them at the flea market. People might buy them and walk around with them for hours in the heat, and that's just cruel.

Advertise on your local craigslist, and other sites like that, and have people come to your home for them. I don't think you'll sell enough at the flea market to make it worth it for you, or the animals.

[tomfromtheshade]

Glass aquarium in direct sunlight? LOL. Not a good idea.

I would set up a tarp to keep the sun off of them at all times number one. This will be a big help.

A fan set up over top of whatever you are displaying them in to pull the heat and the humidity off of the animals would be necessary as well.

I would just keep them in high tubs. This way you can reach in easily and they won't be able to jump out.

Also, I wouldn't display any of them out where people can see them. I would take pictures of the sizes and put the pictures out on your table in a professional manner and let people choose from that for feeders.

If people want pets then I would work individually. However, you don't want every dreg of the earth flea market hooligan touching the rats that you plan on bringing home and putting back in with your colony. That is a good way to have your entire colony wiped out in short order.

You can just use cardboard boxes to pack the rats up in. I would buy them in bulk and charge for them when you sell the rats. If people don't want to pay for the box then they will have to supply their own box. That is the only way you will be able to remain profitable. There is no where near enough margin in a rat to throw in some kind of container that you have to pay for.

[jasbus]

Just buy some big totes, does double duty, transport and cage while you're there.

The night before, freeze up a few 2 liter bottles 3/4 full of water. Place the frozen bottles between the totes, it'll keep them cool for the entire day... and, the condensation will give them something to drink, so you only have to bring one or two water bottles to switch around.

On a side note, I used to do this on Saturday's when I lived in Florida, the ice bottles works, even in that hell of a state. But, ultimately, unless you plan on being there every single weekend, it is not profitable at all. YOu will sell a lot of rats and mice, but not enough to really make it do-able. If you do it every weekend, you will get a lot of repeat customers, but like I said, you won't be making a ton of money.
I was in Orlando, raised tons of rodents for the local breeders, and like I said, started selling at a big flea market for probably 1 to 1.5 years. I made more money from a single snake breeder during the week, than I ever did on a weekend at a flea market....
Not to mention, you lose your Saturday....
In short, you'll hate it.