Thinking About Breeding Rats

So I just finished reading through the lovely sticky on breeding rats and just had a few questions. I have a male that didn't get eaten a few weeks ago an he is now quite large. He is also extremely friendly for a feeder and I don't want to part with him. So, I was thinking about getting him a girlfriend.

Now, I only need rat pups for my baby boas at the moment, so I was trying to figure out how many weeks the female would need off between litters if I fed off her babies in two weeks? My other question was, should I get two females? And breed my male to them in a staggered fashion so that I'd only have to buy feeders every four weeks, for maybe two weeks at a time? Is that plausible?

I am aware that they cost a bit to keep up, but I pay $5 a week for two rat pups at the moment, so I think I'd be breaking even in the end. Or close to it. And I would have an excuse (with my fiancé) to keep my little male I have now. Thoughts anyone?

I breed some of my own feeders as well, and in my experience, you won't be saving any money. Rodent block ($25 per 50 lbs), bedding ($5 for 6 cubic feet), caging ($$$depends on rack or cages), cleaning supplies (I sanitize weekly with Chlorhexadine), etc. Every week I spend more time on the upkeep of the rats than I do my 17 bp's, 1 rtb, and 1 hognose.
It IS convenient to have snake food available at all times, though! (sometimes I feed at 2 am when the balls are more active).
I've been breeding feeders for about 2 years now.
Either way, good luck!!

Thanks for the reply! I don't mind upkeep on three or so rats. I already have hamsters, so I keep a ready supply of carefresh, but will be switching to yesterday's news for the ratties as it is cheaper. The breeders would be pets, and I don't mind incurring a bit of the cost and the time it takes to keep them up. I'm getting a two story cage on Friday for my male as it is and have had him almost a month. I change his bedding every 5 days or sooner if it starts to get a little smelly.

My friend owns a petstore and supplies me with free Mazuri whenever I run out. I'm sure he wouldn't mind giving me more if I supplied him with free babies to sell off. (Those that my snakes don't eat.) So I wouldn't be saddled with any problem animals or uneaten babies as they already have somewhere to go. I'm sure he'll want to pay me something for providing him with them in addition to the free food, but I wouldn't mind just having somewhere to get rid of extras. :P

It's for convenience more than anything. I'm sick of having to drive 15-20 minutes to get food for my babies every week. The amount I'd save in time and gas would be worth it enough. lol. And it's really irritating when I get stuck in meetings in the afternoon and have to wait an additional 3 days for another shipment to arrive at the store. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by WarriorPrincess90

I'm getting a two story cage on Friday for my male as it is

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If you're thinking of breeding rats, you'll need to think of getting an enclosure that they can't push babies out of or that the babies can get stuck in.

At $5/week... if you buy aspen in large bales and the food in large quanties(or get it free), you could easily break even or go under budget if you raise the rats yourself. Since you won't be feeding any rats past weaning age(they wouldn't be weaned when you're using them as feeders), then the cost would be mainly for the adult breeders. Feed and bedding for 2-3 rats is a nominal cost when you buy in bulk.

I've been thinking about this too. I have two female rats that I got as pets (they are about 8-10 weeks old now), but my ball python has stopped eating his frozen rats since they came into the house. Atlas isn't in the best condition, despite my efforts to keep him eating, and now going on a month without food...I though having the rats would be an appetite stimulant. :(

Anyway, I was thinking I would "borrow" a boyfriend for my girls, and see how he does on a few pups/weaners as they grow. Right now, I am paying $7 a pop for frozen rats, and having to throw them out makes me physically ill. I only have one other snake (a corn) and he just isn't big enough to play garbage disposal.

Any thoughts?

It's cheaper to buy feeders for one or two snakes than it is to breed your own, but nothing beats feeding your own fat lil ratties to your snakes versus what most ppl sell as feeders.

DONT!!!!!!! lol next thing you know youll end up being the feeder guy :D