Time to start breeding my own?

After acquiring 4 new snakes this week, I am now up to 7 Ball Pythons in total... I went to get their feeders today, and it was ridiculous! I had to get EIGHT adult mice, two hoppers, and a rat weanling - for a grand total of around $20. My female snakes are picky, as one will only eat mice, and the other won't take F/T or pre-killed anything. So basically I'm stuck with weekly pet store visits, and spending $20/week on the prey. Methinks it might be time to start breeding my own? :cool:

I don't want more than one cage/tank, so I'm thinking of just getting one male & one or two female mice. I'm wanting to stick with mice for a few reasons - smaller, less smelly, less adorable & sweet (I feel a little guilty feeding them :oops:) IMO, and mostly because one snake is a mouser only. How do you recommend I get started, and will it be worth the trouble? Also, where should I get my breeder mice? I've had rodents in the past (guinea pigs & hamsters), but have never owned mice... this lady at the pet store was saying they're easy, so was she right? TIA for any advice!

Mice stink I dont know how you figure theyre less smelly lol. I breed ASFs for mine because they are very low odor. If breeding mice is anything like ASFs, its easy...put em together...feeed and water...wean and feed.

Edit...forgot to add..
To start:
I picked up a 1.2 colony, and gave them their basic necessities for a happy healthy life. I waited 1.5 months and got my first litter. Dont really know what else to say...

Unfortunately, ASFs are illegal here in California - why, I have no idea!? :weirdface So I'm stuck with either mice or rats, and figured mice will be easier... and yeah, I know rats stink too. :D

Btw, what are their needs in terms of temperature? I really don't want to keep them in my room (mostly for their safety b/c of my cats), and was thinking about the garage instead... it's pretty mild here year-round, so maybe with a small heat lamp they could be happy in there? :confused:

I have no idea. My ASFs live and thrive in 70+. Id think mice do just as well in equal temps.
Heres a handy link for ya...
http://www.reptileallsorts.com/mouse-cs.htm

and this too
http://www.wikihow.com/Take-Care-of-Mice

mice like it much colder than asfs.

I went to Petco and bought my breeder mice today... the guy gave me a hard time, though, when I asked for a male & female. He said "we're not supposed to sell them for breeding - or as feeders" (despite the fact that I've bought feeders there before :rolleyes:). So I replied "Oh, I meant to say they're pets, and I have another cage at home." He rolled his eyes and got them for me, LOL. They're set up in a little cage now, with a water bottle, food, a chew toy, wheel, a sleeping (strawberry) hut, and a toilet paper roll. Now we'll see if they decide to do the bom-chicka-wow-wow... :D

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Unfortunately, ASFs are illegal here in California - why, I have no idea!? :weirdface So I'm stuck with either mice or rats, and figured mice will be easier... and yeah, I know rats stink too. :D

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Because everything is illegal in california, including piranhas and freshwater rays. I know, it sucks.

"I went to Petco and bought my breeder mice today... The guy gave me a hard time, though, when I asked for a male & female. He said "we're not supposed to sell them for breeding - or as feeders" (despite the fact that I've bought feeders there before ). So I replied "Oh, I meant to say they're pets, and I have another cage at home." He rolled his eyes and got them for me, LOL. They're set up in a little cage now, with a water bottle, food, a chew toy, wheel, a sleeping (strawberry) hut, and a toilet paper roll. Now we'll see if they decide to do the bom-chicka-wow-wow..."

^ Yeah, I hate how petco's policy is like that. Anyway I'm glad you managed to buy them, and good luck with breeding them.

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Originally Posted by omnibus2

bom-chicka-wow-wow..."

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:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Good luck. FYI: It could take 2 months before you get your first litter. Depends how old they are.
I started with one colony now a year later I've got four. :)

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Originally Posted by nixer

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

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I decided to name them Rocco and Jenna, because of the bom-chicka-wow-wow I hope they'll do... I would explain the names, but will let you figure it out instead. :D

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Originally Posted by omnibus2

Because everything is illegal in california, including piranhas and freshwater rays. I know, it sucks.

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Yup... I love California, but our laws can be a little wacky! I mean, it's legal (for many people) to smoke weed in public, but you can't have a hedgehog? :8:

I actually did a little research, and certain animals are illegal because of our environment/climate being similar to theirs - I guess they're afraid of population explosions? Not to mention, ALL pythons and boas are illegal in SF, but they don't generally care unless you're a retailer. Oy vey...

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Yeah, I hate how petco's policy is like that. Anyway I'm glad you managed to buy them, and good luck with breeding them.

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Thanks! Petco is lame, because they've sold me plenty of feeders in the past... and it's not like I can't just get a male, and then come back for the female (or get it somewhere else). Anyway, they are settling in nicely, and seem to like each other fine so far. The girl loves her wheel, and the boy is digging his strawberry hut:

(yuk - she poops while running :P)
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/DSCF0594.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/DSCF0602.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/DSCF0596.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/DSCF0607.jpg

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Originally Posted by snakelady

Good luck. FYI: It could take 2 months before you get your first litter. Depends how old they are.
I started with one colony now a year later I've got four. :)

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Awesome. :gj: I don't think they're very young... the boy is smaller than the girl, but I'm not sure what that means. Maybe you can tell by the pictures I just posted? I'll just keep buying my feeders, until they decide to make some for me!

P.S. Do you all feed live or F/T? I've been feeding live, but could end up with too many mice that way.