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F/T Suppliers?

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  • 01-07-2014, 12:47 AM
    Samii
    F/T Suppliers?
    I'm looking for reliable suppliers of f/t rodents. I live in Michigan, so they have to be shipped here, so ideally I'd like a nearby supplier. Does anybody have any suggestions?
  • 01-07-2014, 02:08 AM
    Neal
    Re: F/T Suppliers?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Samii View Post
    I'm looking for reliable suppliers of f/t rodents. I live in Michigan, so they have to be shipped here, so ideally I'd like a nearby supplier. Does anybody have any suggestions?

    Well how many snakes and what sizes are you needing. This will come into play who I'd recommend.
  • 01-07-2014, 02:12 AM
    Samii
    Re: F/T Suppliers?
    Just one snake, and I'm basically just at rat pups or around there.
  • 01-07-2014, 02:33 AM
    Neal
    Well most places you're going to have to order at least 25, because that's how they come packed. Places like American Rodent Supply has a $100 minimum order. I would try to find somebody local to split the order with that way you're not buying too much other than what you need. If not then I'd try Big Cheese Rodents. Shipping may be a bit more but you won't have to do $100 minimum order. Anything with hair can stay good up to a year, sometimes longer depending on how it's sealed. So what I would do is probably buy 50 rat pups and then Small rats. By the time you'll be able to step up to Small rats you can just feed 2x rat pups per feeding then when you run out you already have your small rats. That's just my outlook though.
  • 01-07-2014, 07:52 AM
    treeboa
    RodentPro is in Indiana. I'm from Michigan too. When I do smaller orders I order from them. You can, also, get frozen rodents at the Taylor and Lapeer shows. I think there are rodent suppliers at the show on the west side of the state too. I've never been to that show, though, because I live in Flint. I find Big Cheese to be a bit expensive.
  • 01-07-2014, 09:07 AM
    Neal
    Re: F/T Suppliers?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by treeboa View Post
    RodentPro is in Indiana. I'm from Michigan too. When I do smaller orders I order from them. You can, also, get frozen rodents at the Taylor and Lapeer shows. I think there are rodent suppliers at the show on the west side of the state too. I've never been to that show, though, because I live in Flint. I find Big Cheese to be a bit expensive.

    At the rate of Rodent Pro prices you'd still be cheaper getting from Big Cheese Rodents out of Texas. I personally would never deal with Rodent Pro. I know many people who have had issues with them and that they had other issues as well. The size variety from them is horrible.

    I live in Louisiana personally so Big Cheese is right next door to me, so that could be why they seem expensive to you living in Michigan. I'd still try American Rodent Supply though as they're from Indiana so as long as you meet their $100 order you get free shipping.
  • 01-07-2014, 12:52 PM
    treeboa
    I always go to the companies site, load up my cart, and compare prices. RodentPro, Mice Direct, and Loxahatchee are all consistently cheaper to Michigan. . I've never ordered from Big Cheese for that reason. If you order $100 worth ARS are by far cheaper than anyone. RodentPro's issues were with getting rodents from outside sources when they ran short on their own stock. I haven't heard about any problems since they had to shut down with the bacteria scare. I really don't know why people get so bent out of shape about feces or urine on the rodents anyway. Aren't they in the insides of the rodents anyway?
  • 01-07-2014, 01:52 PM
    Neal
    Re: F/T Suppliers?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by treeboa View Post
    I always go to the companies site, load up my cart, and compare prices. RodentPro, Mice Direct, and Loxahatchee are all consistently cheaper to Michigan. . I've never ordered from Big Cheese for that reason. If you order $100 worth ARS are by far cheaper than anyone. RodentPro's issues were with getting rodents from outside sources when they ran short on their own stock. I haven't heard about any problems since they had to shut down with the bacteria scare. I really don't know why people get so bent out of shape about feces or urine on the rodents anyway. Aren't they in the insides of the rodents anyway?

    It was more of an issue than you think with Rodent Pro. I won't get into the details, but just to see how honest they were I called and asked about the said issue and it was denied several times. I just don't condone doing business with a company that will lie straight to my face.
  • 01-07-2014, 02:06 PM
    wilomn
    Re: F/T Suppliers?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by treeboa View Post
    I always go to the companies site, load up my cart, and compare prices. RodentPro, Mice Direct, and Loxahatchee are all condents anyway?

    It's more of a total picture thing. If the final product, the thing the purchaser is putting out money for, is covered in urine and feces when they're sold, how do you suppose they were kept prior to that?

    I few poops or spots of urine are not out of line, just using a CO2 chamber will leave that behind, but it won't coat hair or cause the animals to stink when thawed. They should be nice and clean.

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Neal View Post
    It was more of an issue than you think with Rodent Pro. I won't get into the details, but just to see how honest they were I called and asked about the said issue and it was denied several times. I just don't condone doing business with a company that will lie straight to my face.

    They lied about it on fauna, then denied it when they were caught and finally admitted to it but passed the buck to their suppliers at least one of which had his entire facility, cages and animals burnt to the ground by the CDC because this Virus the rodents had was NOT killed by freezing and could kill humans. It made several people very sick.

    Some of their suppliers may be good, but some of them are beneath the bottom of the pile selling pure crap to the unsuspecting.
  • 01-07-2014, 02:12 PM
    Neal
    Re: F/T Suppliers?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by wilomn View Post
    It's more of a total picture thing. If the final product, the thing the purchaser is putting out money for, is covered in urine and feces when they're sold, how do you suppose they were kept prior to that?

    I few poops or spots of urine are not out of line, just using a CO2 chamber will leave that behind, but it won't coat hair or cause the animals to stink when thawed. They should be nice and clean.



    They lied about it on fauna, then denied it when they were caught and finally admitted to it but passed the buck to their suppliers at least one of which had his entire facility, cages and animals burnt to the ground by the CDC because this Virus the rodents had was NOT killed by freezing and could kill humans. It made several people very sick.

    Some of their suppliers may be good, but some of them are beneath the bottom of the pile selling pure crap to the unsuspecting.

    Yea, I know. That's why I wouldn't do business with them ever again. I mean I don't care if it were free. How are things with you bud?
  • 01-08-2014, 06:02 AM
    treeboa
    "I'm sure the OP is trying to do his due diligence as a good citizen (it sounds like he's got reasonable beef with RodentPro too), but I think the "outbreak" announcement is premature. LCMV is very common in rodent populations, and seroprevalence studies have demonstrated low levels of exposure in human populations as well in cohorts of people who never even showed symptoms. That RodentPro and every other mouse breeder in the country has seen LCMV come through their facilities - and that many of us are regularly exposed - should not be surprising at all. A symptomatic case in humans WOULD be very unusual and is probably the only reason the CDC was investigating (an investigation of this nature would be very standard protocol). I would be reluctant to get too excited about this pending a more official announcement. Especially since it only gives the media more senseless anti-herpetoculture fodder."

    Brad


    Bradley J. Waffa, MSPH
    DVM Candidate
    Merial, Ltd. Student Representative
    NAVC OnCampus Representative
    NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine
    Raleigh, NC 27606

    I went back and looked at the RodentPro thread. This is the reason I wasn't personally as up in arms as everybody about the whole thing. The virus is pretty much the equivalent of Salmonella. And from what Waffa says here, it sounds like Salmonella is more prevalent in chicken than this virus is in rodents. You got chicken in your freezer? Do you handle it then put your fingers in your mouth?

    As long as I've ordered from RodentPro I've never got rodents "soaked in urine." Some urine and feces in the bag, yes. Only a few times. And smell. Was it a urine smell? A decomp smell? If urine again I say, eh? If decomp, how was the rodent dethawed? In boiling hot water? Under a 100w bulb? No one ever asked these people this stuff. They just excepted it.

    As far as business ethics. Really put yourself in a business owners position. Would you really sound all alarms to everyone before you even really knew the scope of the problem? It's nice to be all high and mighty when you're not in that position and say you would. I would bet anything if really were in their position you wouldn't though.
  • 01-08-2014, 10:29 AM
    artgecko
    I've heard good things about Layne Labs. Their prices are good, but shipping can be steep. Only worth it if you can order in bulk (maybe their shipping to you is cheaper than to me). I have heard that they need a good lead time (so order like 1-2 months before you need them), but am not sure if that is accurate. I have heard that their rodents are always clean and well packaged / shipped.

    I have a similar issue to you in that I only have 3 snakes, so ordering in bulk can be a pain. I need to invest in a good small chest freezer for that purpose and maybe use it as an excuse to buy more snakes. :p
  • 01-08-2014, 02:10 PM
    brock lesser
    Re: F/T Suppliers?
    I think BHB sells feeders, might want to call them.
  • 01-08-2014, 05:12 PM
    treeboa
    Local breeders can be the answer.
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