Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 742

1 members and 741 guests
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,904
Threads: 249,099
Posts: 2,572,073
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, GeneticArtist
Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Raising rats?

  1. #1
    BPnet Veteran
    Join Date
    12-03-2013
    Posts
    579
    Thanks
    296
    Thanked 126 Times in 104 Posts

    Raising rats?

    Ginger has taken very well to eating live. I need to start feeding her small rats, as she'll eat 3-4 mice easily. U fortunately, the only pet store near me that sells rodents is Petco, and they have rats that are much too big for Ginger. I bought their smallest rat, and it was much too large for Ginny to eat. - it was twice as large as her girth at the widest point


    So I am considering getting some baby rats and raising them....... Good idea or bad? It's so rural where I live, I can't think of any other solution. I'd really appreciate hearing what others think.

    Many thanks,
    Pamela




    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    BPnet Senior Member
    Join Date
    09-30-2013
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    1,146
    Thanks
    304
    Thanked 588 Times in 354 Posts
    With only one snake you may end up with more rats than you can use. If that happens, they'll outgrow what your snake can eat and you'll be stuck with them.
    Last edited by 200xth; 04-16-2015 at 01:52 PM.
    It is okay to use pine bedding for snakes.
    It is okay to feed live food to snakes.

  3. #3
    BPnet Veteran
    Join Date
    12-03-2013
    Posts
    579
    Thanks
    296
    Thanked 126 Times in 104 Posts

    Re: Raising rats?

    Yes, that's one thing that I'm worried about.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    BPnet Lifer Albert Clark's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-22-2015
    Location
    Spotsylvania, Va.
    Posts
    4,651
    Thanks
    6,518
    Thanked 3,295 Times in 2,139 Posts
    Images: 39

    Thumbs up Re: Raising rats?

    Quote Originally Posted by pbyeerts View Post
    Yes, that's one thing that I'm worried about.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    Why don't you consider investing in a mini freezer and just keep a bag of small rats? Switching her over to f/t shouldn't take too long. She should be on rats and f/t is much safer. Just imo. Good luck.

  5. #5
    Registered User Tsanford's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-26-2014
    Location
    San Antonio, TX
    Posts
    774
    Thanks
    280
    Thanked 286 Times in 226 Posts
    You could switch to F/T and get them from rodent pro in bulk which would be your cheapest option.

    But if you are inclined to breeding your own, then for one snake you really would only need 1 male and 1 female. Have 2 separate containers and pair them for 3 weeks, then remove. Once the female gives birth let her raise them for 3 weeks, and wean them.

    With what I said above, you'd average about 8 - 16 rats each time, which would give you plenty so the momma could take a break before you breed her again. The only thing is you wouldnt have small size for more than 2 months because of the time it takes for pairing, breeding, and weanlings growing to small size. Another issue you might run into is the babies growing too large before you have a chance to feed them.

    As others said, it just doesn't make all that sence to breed your own rats with only one snake, but it can be done.

  6. #6
    BPnet Veteran
    Join Date
    12-03-2013
    Posts
    579
    Thanks
    296
    Thanked 126 Times in 104 Posts

    Raising rats?

    Thanks for the great advice! Hopefully I can get her back on F/T soon.....


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    Last edited by pbyeerts; 04-16-2015 at 03:53 PM.

  7. #7
    Sometimes It Hurts... PitOnTheProwl's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-21-2010
    Location
    San Antonio, TX
    Posts
    12,050
    Thanks
    6,313
    Thanked 6,985 Times in 4,274 Posts
    Images: 3
    What area of the world are you in?
    You just might have a rodent breeder near you.

  8. #8
    Registered User EasiGregory's Avatar
    Join Date
    07-07-2014
    Location
    St. Louis, MO
    Posts
    106
    Thanks
    30
    Thanked 42 Times in 33 Posts
    Images: 4
    Another thing you could also consider is euthanizing the rats at the size your snake requires and freezing your own rodents (assuming your breed your own). This would allow you to have a variety of sizes for what you need but is also a lot more work. Breeding your own rodents also requires more time investment, so you have to weigh the pros and cons of each.

    My vote would be to either find a local rodent breeder or buy F/T.

    Greg

  9. #9
    BPnet Veteran Daigga's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-20-2014
    Location
    Dallas, Texas
    Posts
    691
    Thanks
    15
    Thanked 330 Times in 223 Posts
    If you only have the one snake I wouldn't even consider it. Even with a single male and female, you're going to be spending much more time on your rat husbandry than with your snakes. You're also looking at annoying rat maintenance bills (rat food is oddly expensive if you don't buy bulk) and the hassle around having to euthanize them to prevent them outgrowing your snake. Basically you're going to be paying the same as buying bulk f/t but with a lot more work and weird smells.

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to Daigga For This Useful Post:

    Sonny1318 (04-17-2015)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1