buy a few mice instead of 1 a week

[mm91187]

Ive been feeding my Ball python one medium-adult sized mouse a week, and the only place i can get them is about 30minutes away. im wondering, if it would be a good idea to buy a few mice at one time so i dont have to make so many trips to that store every week. but i dont want to buy, say 3 mice and then when it comes to feed the last mouse to my BP, that mouse is too big to feed. so if i was to buy 3 or 4 perfectly sized mice for my BP, i would hand pick them. would they grow to be too big to feed when i need to feed them? im not sure if yall get it but i could explain more if it's confusing lol

[Melicious]

I highly doubt that in a week that your potential feeders would grow THAT big. O_O Then again, I don't have your problem. Eep. Pet store's right across the street. If I were you though, I'd make sure that you have some space on the back porch or something where you can leave your feeders. They tend to smell...a lot. -Cringe.-

[mm91187]

i would prolly leave them in the garage, hopefully parents wouldnt mind haha

[JLC]

It's not a bad idea. In addition to the convenience of not driving to the store each week, you also get to choose what food the mice eat, which means a chance to feed your BP's extra healthy, well-fed mice.

You could probably get away with buying two mice that are about the right size or a tiny bit smallish...feed one "today" and the next a week later. And pick two other mice that are a bit smaller...and save them for the next week or two.

Just one major thing to be careful of: Make sure you get all the mice the same sex and that none are preggo when you buy them. That could be a hassle you don't want to deal with.

[mm91187]

i think i might do that. what enclosure should i keep them in? would a sterlite tub work, or should i get something like a 5-10 gallon tank? sterlites would cheaper though.

[JLC]

Well, since you should only have to buy one, and use it over and over again, so I would probably choose something a bit nicer than sterelite. Something they can't chew through, for one. And something with lots of ventilation, 'cause mice are stinky little critters. And something that isn't too heavy and bulky to clean out. And something roomy enough for 3-4 mice to live in without feeling the need to compete for everything and possibly causing fights. .....hehe...that's a lot of "somethings" huh?


I might choose a 10 or 15 gal critter-keeper tank (cheaper than a fish tank) with a screen top. Get a wheel to put in it...and some hides and things to chew on to keep 'em busy.

[mm91187]

good idea, ill have to stop by the pet store tomorow and get me a couple mice, more substrate (i was thinking about carefresh for the mice, is that good?), a wheel, bottle, food (or should i use the sticky up top?) and the tank

[JLC]

For bedding, I'd make sure to choose something really absorbant. Carefresh might work well, I'm not sure how it does at eliminating odors, or at least cutting down on them. I'd probably choose aspen or even pine. I wouldn't use pine for pet or breeder rodents, but if you don't plan on keeping them long anyhow, it might be your best bet. It's cheap and it does a relatively good job at reducing odor.

And yeah, if I were keeping rats or mice for a period of time, I'd use the stickied recipe to help ensure good healthy food.

[Vomitore]

Mice ... Ugh, what a stench! I've had rats, they dont smell, but mice are just disgusting. Maybe that's why I dont mind feeding them to my snakes?

[SatanicIntention]

Get female mice if you are worried about the stinkiness. Males, especially those that are singly kept, STINK. Period. I keep around 5-7 males per 10g and they stink less than a male kept by himself... Weirdos... Probably hormones.

I love the female mice though. Usually more sociable(I have some that I can pick up and play with like the rats) and don't fight with each other constantly(maybe a bicker here and there).