What do you do with non-productive rats?

I agree with the others, time is key. Just because a female rodent may look like the appropriate size to breed it may in fact not be ready. It cannot also be assumed that because one of the females took that both did.

Eh; I could not have put-down an otherwise healthy rat just because it didn't get pregnant fast enough. I would probably take it to a pet store and see if they needed it for feeding a larger snake, or even if they wanted to put it up for adoption, or even sale, for a pet. It doesn't sit well with me to put-down an animal because it won't breed. If there were a purpose, suchas feeding a snake, that would be fine.. but I just don't feel it is something I would have done. At the least I would freeze it and make sure that someone can use it for feeding.

I don't know anyone with an animal that could take a big rat, so that wouldn' work. What about just letting it go outside? Is that a bad idea?

I highly doubt a pet store would ever buy or take any pet from a person and re-sell it, probably a big liability issue.

Well, euthanizing it is not ideal.. bt it is leaps and bounds better than letting the rat go. A domesticated rat that's used to bagged feed and shaving bedding is going to be dead within hours of being released, I'd bet.
Pet stores in my neck of the woods are happy to take in animals. Even Petco has the odd lizard or guinea pig that someone brought in, for adoption.

Releasing a domestic rat is no better than dumping a dog IMO.
Never release. Check around to see if anyone near you keeps larger snakes or monitors, and the local pet stores. Rescues? Wildlife rescue, who might need feeders for raptors.
Wolfy

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Originally Posted by Snikt228

I don't know anyone with an animal that could take a big rat, so that wouldn' work. What about just letting it go outside? Is that a bad idea?

I highly doubt a pet store would ever buy or take any pet from a person and re-sell it, probably a big liability issue.

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Yes it's a very bad idea! You'd be releasing an animal used to captivity into a wild environment, you'd be contributing to the problem of rats in the wild...it's the wrong solution. When you decide to breed any animal you become responsible for that breeding animal and to the offspring you get it to produce and this does include feeder animals. You don't have to retire older breeder rats but you must do something with them that does not include dumping them out the back door.

Check into private pet stores, herp clubs, herp and raptor rescues that might be able to use a larger size rat. Euthanize humanely if that's your choice and there's no other use for the rat but taking the easy route out and dumping an animal is never the right decision as far as I'm concerned.

im in the same situation, but i put mines on CL to a too good potiential owner...Hope this might give you some better ideas..