Pros and Cons of rats?

I'm getting fed up with my mice. I've gotten advice multiple times and have no pinks after four or five months. I also got some BPs now, so I kinda need rats.

Soooooo... compared to mice, how are rats? Litter sizes, water and food consumption, tub sizes for groups, ect. I can use any info you have to offer.

I'm also curious about these 'motar' tubs I've heard of, if that's the right name. I KNOW I can deal with rats chewing on normal sterilite/roughneck tubs though, so those aren't a main curiosity for me.

The best way to breed rats really depends on how many rats you need and what sizes you need. With a little more information I can tell you which was is best to go about it.

I think rats smell less than mice, and are definitely much friendlier. I have bred rats in the past, and they have larger litters than mice, I am getting back into it for feeder purposes. However, if you are going to get the best advice, I would say ask Tom above, he has been doing this awhile.

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Originally Posted by tomfromtheshade

The best way to breed rats really depends on how many rats you need and what sizes you need. With a little more information I can tell you which was is best to go about it.

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The BPs are eating medium sized rats, but I probably will end up switching my corns and rat snake to rats if they breed well. So right now, probably large pinks, fuzzies, and small-medium adults. Everyone eats f/t, and everyone is happy to eat more than one item if I offer more, so I will probably offer two smaller items like I always do, rather than one large. And like I said, everyone eats f/t, and I have ample freezer space and vacuum bags.

EDIT: I can and plan to also sell any surplus rats I have, as Pet Supermarket gets all their rats that way, and a mom and pop store only carries small-medium adults and will buy other sizes.

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Originally Posted by Shenzi Sixaxis

I'm getting fed up with my mice. I've gotten advice multiple times and have no pinks after four or five months. I also got some BPs now, so I kinda need rats.

Soooooo... compared to mice, how are rats? Litter sizes, water and food consumption, tub sizes for groups, ect. I can use any info you have to offer.

I'm also curious about these 'motar' tubs I've heard of, if that's the right name. I KNOW I can deal with rats chewing on normal sterilite/roughneck tubs though, so those aren't a main curiosity for me.

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I originally started breeding mice for feeders but also decided that rats were the way to go. I personally think that rats smell alot better than mice overall. Honestly, I remember bringing home my first feeder mice from the local Petco and the bottom of the cardboard container was soaked in urine and feces. Those little things to me smell alot worse than any rat. To answer your q's: I usually get 8+ babies (trying to average them out) from my momma rats. I went with water bottles instead of a watering system, so depending on the heat, I give fresh water daily or every other day. I also go through about a 20lb bag of food every 2 weeks but my colony is alot smaller than some others here. I currently run 5 tubs of 1.2 and 1 tub with 1.3. I have all of mine in Sterilite tubs and have not had any chew out in over a year.

You would have to tell me how many of each size you go through each week and I can help you figure out a good game plan. Without actual numbers I can't really give you good advice.

Unless I say other wise, everything's mice.

My normal corn eats two peach fuzzies or 1 large normal fuzzy every week
My okeetee eats one hopper every week (could probably eat a small adult or weanling, but hoppers are what I have and are doing good)
The lucy rat is on hoppers every week
And both BPs were on a schedule of one medium rat every 2 weeks

So pretty much five prey items every week, but I do prefer to feed multiple small items if I can. And again, everyone's on f/t. :D
And with the BPs, since they're every two weeks, I'll feed one of them one week, and the other the next week.

I absolutely hate mice, hate ASFs, but love the rats! They are so much fun. I've tried to breed mice, but they stunk so bad, and I had a lot of issues. Now that I have the ASFs cages so they can't escape I don't mind the ASFs, but just one trio of ASFs wastes more food than all of my rats combined! Rats are so easy, and they don't chew out of things even if they have plenty of room to do so. They are easy to breed, and they are much friendlier than mice and ASFs!!!! Granted you need a good beginning stock. Don't buy adults from the pet store, they are usually retired or bad breeders.

I say go for it!!

:P ASFs are another thing I'll breed for food and pets, as no one supplies them here. Did you try hoppers with them?

I have a 1.3 ratio of soft furs right now and one of the females will drop babies here soon. Ill be getting a 1.4 ratio of rats here shortly. ASF's are cool to watch but they do play in there food alot if its in a bowl. Im going to make a 1/4" mesh hopper for them this weekend and use up my Kaytee Rat Blocks and then switch to some cheap dog food for them.