Hardest part of this hobby

A lot of people see it as a weird conflict of interest (since we both keep reptiles) but my sister is actually pretty active on rat forums and for a long time participated in a rat rescue network. A lot of the rats that got re-homed that way were ex breeder females that people didn't want to see become snake food. We've actually had a few such rats as pets. Unfortunately due to my history with having rats as pets I'm not sure how I'd stomach breeding my own for food. It's easier when they come to me already dead and frozen. I don't have nearly as much emotional attachment to mice but they stink :mad:

Yes, the breeding your own food has it's ups and downs. For the most part, we keep handling of the food rats to a minimum. It's just too darn hard to feed them when you get attached. We console ourselves with keeping one special rat out of each litter. That one gets handled and spoiled rotten, and I mean spoiled rotten. About one out of every 4 specials stays here to become future breeding stock, the others become extra special pets thanks to my awesome local mom and pop pet store.

My big thing is, I cannot feed dumbos. Top ears don't bother me, but I just can't bear to feed a dumbo. Those insanely cute faces and big ears....not going to happen. So on rare occasions when we have an excess of dumbos we can't send to the pet store, hubby has to feed them. I just can't do it.

Of course, the fact that my daughter's first pet was a dumbo, and my own extra, extra special boy is a dumbo has nothing to do with that. Nothing at all.:rolleyes:

I've gotten so attached to the little buggers, I've become a surrogate mom more than once. Feeding a litter or sometimes just one lone runt every couple for hours for a few weeks tends to make it really hard to let them go. Yes, I know full well I could feed the ones that aren't thriving or have lost momma or whatever, but darn it I can't help but feel like they need a chance. Even if it does wear me out. :sigh2:

By the way.... Button is just too darn cute for me to stand it!

Gale

We pick favorites out of the litters to do the same thing it makes me feel a little better. One breeder male we kept is just plain black but when he was a pinkie my one year old grandson got ahold of him and bit him on the head. Which resulted in the loss of one eye. Well every one felt so bad we named him winkie and he is still here as a breeder and is very sweet. My son and I take turns picking the feeders from the racks. Because that's the worst part having to choose the ones to die. But that's why we raise them.




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Call me crazy, but when I hear a slam against the side of the tub, followed by a squeal... I do a fist pump :gj:

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Originally Posted by coreydelong

Call me crazy, but when I hear a slam against the side of the tub, followed by a squeal... I do a fist pump :gj:

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Yup. LOL

Don't get me wrong I feel bad but I also think its cool when my snakes strike. I don't care to watch the struggle but I like to watch the snakes swallow one down.

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

Lol, I tell myself that's what they are there for. That and we do have a few "holdback" pets...;)

Button, for example:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/22/qa5avyge.jpg

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And here I was thinking I was all original for naming my scottie dog Button, for the exact same reason, sigh (although she is!)

I want some dumbos so bad to breed for pets of course but I'm having trouble finding them.

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Ok, no more talking about how cute and cuddly the rats are. They are food and I don't want to start feeling bad when I feed them off.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/25/u6e5y9yh.jpg

They even play Polly pockets!


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