Rat Or Mice?

[Bucko]

I am currently breeding a few mice to supply my one ball python, but i was wondering if breeding rats would be a better way to go. My mice seem to be killing their babies a lot, so do rats also do this? Also how is the smell of rats, i have heard it was even more than mice.

[tigerlily]

As far as rats and mice go, you may want to try searching the forums. It's a highly underutilized tool here. But I'll see if I can give you as much info as I'm able.

Rats are much less odorous than mice. Mice also tend to be a bit more prone to killing their offspring. Now as for which one you would be better off breeding, well that's going to have to be your decisions. If you bp eats mice, it may not take to rats. Also if you breed rats, I would never feed anything than a small rat. The rats may also grow faster than you are able to feed off. There are many threads that may be of more help than my pitiful self. Plus we have many members who actually breed the little rodents currently.

[SnakeySnakeSnake]

I am currently breeding a few mice to supply my one ball python, but i was wondering if breeding rats would be a better way to go. My mice seem to be killing their babies a lot, so do rats also do this? Also how is the smell of rats, i have heard it was even more than mice.

I have had about 300 rat babies in the last month or so, and so far Ive seen none killed by the mothers, and 19/20 of the mothers were great mothers.

As far as smell, Ive been told by people who breed both, that mice smell WAY more. I know my rats smell after its been 7 days and no cleaning done, but I dont smell it until I get into the basement, and if i added some ventilation and tried the vanilla trick and a few others it would probably be even less.

[tigerlily]

Ahhh... I was feeling spunky so I searched a bit for ya...

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ding+mice+rats

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ding+mice+rats

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ding+mice+rats

[Bucko]

Thank you a lot guys.

[Bucko]

I also searched the forums just now and was wondering if i could house 2 adult rats in a 10 gallon tank? I have a freind willing to give me 2 rats to start out with.

[SnakeySnakeSnake]

I also searched the forums just now and was wondering if i could house 2 adult rats in a 10 gallon tank? I have a freind willing to give me 2 rats to start out with.

Yup, that is exactly how I started out. But once the female has her babies it will be a bit crowded.

I wouldnt do more than 2 large adults in a 10 gallon.

[Bucko]

Yup, that is exactly how I started out. But once the female has her babies it will be a bit crowded.

I wouldnt do more than 2 large adults in a 10 gallon.

Alright thanks i have a cage for the male for once the female give birth.

[SatanicIntention]

Are you prepared to have around 20 rats in that one ten gallon tank? That would be incredibly unsanitary and not to mention would be a very bad situation for the rats themselves. If you are only feeding one snake, it would be more money-conscious to just find a good pet store that sells healthy feeders and either buy a few adult mice per week(one sex unless you want more) or buy one rat pup per week. You would save yourself alot of money not having to properly(notice I said properly, now...) feed, house and then feed off 20+ rats if you do end up breeding them. I have 17 as pets and I spend around $70 on their food(not including the $20 50lb bag of lab blocks that they get sometimes) once every 2-3 months.

A ten gallon tank is big enough for one female rat and her babies for maybe a week or two. They then should be moved to a multi-level wire cage or big tub as the increasing size of the babies causes more ammonia to be produced, not to mention crowding them in a 10-gallon tank doesn't allow for proper exercise that they need to be healthy.

For one snake, a pair of rats would produce babies too rapidly for you to even dream of using them all before the rats get too big. You would have to euthanize and freeze them(not knowing if your snake will consistently eat f/t prey) or you could sell them to the pet store.

I breed mice(occasionally) for my snakes(6 now) and rarely do I have a female eat her babies. I keep 1.2 in 10gallon tanks for a week or so and then sometimes I take out the male, but most times I leave him with the girls for a consecutive breeding(just depends on how many I have in the grow-up tanks. I have about 6 tanks now with varying sizes of mice(separated by sex of course). I am feeding them Mazuri Rodent blocks that I get at the feed store. A 50lb bag is $20 and it lasts a good long while(3-4 months). Sometimes they get a handful of Science Diet Canine Maintenance dog food(since they are kept at school). Other than that I just clean cages once a week, feed and water, etc. and my job is done. The guinea pig at school takes longer to take care of than those mice, LoL.

Just some food for thought(literally).

[Bucko]

Alright thank you very much. I will reconsider. I will give my females one more chance to produce a litter, and if she eats her young i will look into getting a new female.