Trial

[Jay_Bunny]

I was thinking of breeding mice when I had more snakes (more than 3, currently have 2). I have never kept a mouse before and I was thinking maybe it would be a good idea to get a mouse (or two. Do they need cagemates?) and keep it as a pet and see how things go before I jump into breeding them. Sound like a plan? I was thinking about getting the mouse after I move into the townhome this summer. My grandmother refuses to allow me to have rodents in the house unless they are dead (frozen feeders).

Could anyone provide a complete supplies list for two mice?

[Wolfsnaps]

Mice are social and so one mouse would not be as happy as two. You will need an escape proof cage, bedding (aspen seems to be the favorite, I use pine for my rats and it works too) a good food mix (store mixes tend to suck, I make my own),A water bottle, something for them to chew (their teeth always grow so buy them something suitable for pet rodents to chew, they make all kinds of things) SOmeplace to hide (I use paper towel tubes) and treats as desired.


I have to say that mice stink.....very badly. I used to have to clean mice cages at my old job and everything was a sticky, grimey, stinky mess....DAILY!

If you can afford the space and extra couple bucks, rats are far better to breed both for their less stink like qualities, and they seem to breed better compared to mice in appropriate conditons.

[lord jackel]

I would recommend you get 2...as they like companions. I would get 2 females that way when/if you decide to breed them they are old enough (and healthy) and all you have to do is get a male.


Keeping them is easy.
10Gal with screen lid(and locks) or a 32QT rubbermaid - burn holes in its lid
Just note mice stink so the bigger container the longer you can go before you have to change them. My daughter has 2 females in a 32QT and we can go about 7 days before you can smell them.

You will need bedding too...my personal preference is Aspen as it is what I use for my snakes...but you can play around with stuff to see what works for you

A non-chewable water bottle
Food Dish
A hide or house (seems to make them more comfortable)
Food - get a high quality rat/mouse food lab blocks (Mazuri is the best)

These are the basics...enjoy.

[Jay_Bunny]

The only problem with breeding rats is that at the moment, I have a 63gram corn snake and a very small king. The corn is on mouse hoppers and the king is on mouse pinkies. Would the corn or king be able to eat rats? I know they would not be able to eat full grown rats unless they were very small and thats months and months down the road.

I wouldn't mind rats. I think they are wonderful and I want two for pets.

[Wolfsnaps]

I like rats personalities better, too bad I am allergic


I breed african soft furred rats which are larger than mice and smaller than rats. I do remember rats breeding at a pet store and I think rat pinks ( day olds) would be ok for both snakes. But don't quote me because I have no experience with kings or corns. I have a ball....

Keep us posted on what you decide. I keep my rats in a sterilite bin (forget the size) and I drilled holes in the top for ventilation. I dont know about burning holes, that seems too uncontrolled and the holes might end up too big.

[Jay_Bunny]

The soldering iron I have makes small holes. Not even a mouse pinky could get through those holes. I'll wait for more opinions over mouse and rats. ASF sound like a good idea. Do they smell better than mice?

[mlededee]

in my opinion a sterilite with holes in it is just not enough ventillation for mice. you could cut a section out of the top and use mesh wire to cover it--this will provide much more ventillation. either way the mice will chew any holes you put in the lid if they can reach them and will chew their way out of the tub so i'd advise something tall enough that they can't get to the lid.

i have 2 female mice that are basically just pets and i keep them in a wire cage for maximum ventillation/non-chewage. i also use a product called stall dry from my local feed store--this cuts down on the ammonia smell by far. i use it in all my rats bins as well. before i started using it the mice were ridiculously stinky but it really does help with that.

[Jay_Bunny]

I will probably go for the open air cages, the ones with bars. It provides the most ventilation.

[Wolfsnaps]

I was going to try a barred cage but I was afraid the babies would get out. I did have a crittertrail at first but that was a pain to clean with all the tubing and hard to reach areas..plus it wasn't big enough. I think the ventilation could be better in my tub and will be adding more holes.

The first tub I tried was a disaster, 6 rats chewed their way out and 5 were killed by my prison guard, the cat....one was caught and retrieved by my ferret.

Anyways, I learned from that fiasco and bought a taller tub, put in more holes, but smaller holes, and I think I am going to put even more holes now.

ASF rats are pretty cool. They come from africa (so do balls!) and drink little water...they have a far less retch inducing smell but anything will smell if it doesn't get cleaned! Their temperment suck though...which I am glad for so I don't get attached...."you want to bite me??? Well say hello to the snake! muahahahahaa"

Ok, I am better now I also like their size, a full grown retired rat is a nice dinner for an adult ball python. So they never outgrow my snake (unlike regular rats which have sweet personalities and get too big for my snake...who wants to feed that?)

hope I was of some use...

[Jay_Bunny]

Well whatever I choose to breed, they have to have somewhat good temperments, as I told my fiance that when we breed, we can choose to keep some of the babies as pets. Rats would be nice, and I plan on getting some as pets, but as far as breeding rats, I'd have to wait a long time before either of my snakes could put away anything more than a pinky. Spencer isn't even up to mouse fuzzies yet.

As far as cages. I could keep the adults in barred cages and when the momma is preggers, move her into a glass tank, or will moving her cause too much stress?