Where to get frozen rodents?

Hi! So I got my first bp on the 4th at a reptile show and I decided it would be best to get rodents there too and get more at the next show in two months. Unfortunately we got there a bit late and all the rodent vendors were cleaned out of the size my bp was eating previously so I got a smaller size and figured I could just feed him multiple at a time, and fortunately it's been working so far but I'm not going to have enough for two months. So I'm wondering what would be the cheapest or easiest way to buy them? I don't think I want to get them at a pet store because of how expensive they are but I will if I have to

If you've got the freezer space and can afford a little up front cost, buying in bulk from a reputable breeder will save you money in the long run.

I use perfect prey and am very happy with the quality of prey, the packaging, the customer service and the prices.

Shipping can get pricey, especially for only one snake, but will probably still be worth it.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

If you've got the freezer space and can afford a little up front cost, buying in bulk from a reputable breeder will save you money in the long run.

I use perfect prey and am very happy with the quality of prey, the packaging, the customer service and the prices.

Shipping can get pricey, especially for only one snake, but will probably still be worth it.

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I was thinking about that but I'm not sure how many to buy? Since he's still a baby I'm not sure what sizes he'll need once he grows a bit more
It's times like these I really wish I had friends with snakes so we could order together and split the shipping haha

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Originally Posted by Ditto

I was thinking about that but I'm not sure how many to buy? Since he's still a baby I'm not sure what sizes he'll need once he grows a bit more
It's times like these I really wish I had friends with snakes so we could order together and split the shipping haha

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Where are you located? I know some other members who have been able to split orders. Maybe somebody near you might be in the same boat?

I know you can buy smaller bags too, I believe 10 packs. But, the savings start to dwindle with smaller packs.

Thats just one more reason to get another snake!!:D

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Where are you located? I know some other members who have been able to split orders. Maybe somebody near you might be in the same boat?

I know you can buy smaller bags too, I believe 10 packs. But, the savings start to dwindle with smaller packs.

Thats just one more reason to get another snake!!:D

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Northeast PA
And I wish!! I'm not sure my family would approve of another one just yet lol (maybe at the next show ;) )

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Originally Posted by Ditto

Northeast PA
And I wish!! I'm not sure my family would approve of another one just yet lol (maybe at the next show ;) )

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Ah, ok. Be thankful you're allowed one. That's super cool of your family. My old man was afraid of snakes, so no snakes for me til I was 20 or 21 and out of the house.
He's come around a bit though, he doesn't run like a scared toddler when he sees my snakes. (I literally saw him run from a garter years ago. The little guy couldn't have been more than 16" long! Hahaha).

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Ah, ok. Be thankful you're allowed one. That's super cool of your family. My old man was afraid of snakes, so no snakes for me til I was 20 or 21 and out of the house.
He's come around a bit though, he doesn't run like a scared toddler when he sees my snakes. (I literally saw him run from a garter years ago. The little guy couldn't have been more than 16" long! Hahaha).

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Oh I am :) My dad's like that, too, absolutely terrified. But he's been surprisingly interested in my new guy and I got him to come to the show with me, so I'm hoping it won't be that hard to convert him lol!

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Originally Posted by Ditto

Oh I am :) My dad's like that, too, absolutely terrified. But he's been surprisingly interested in my new guy and I got him to come to the show with me, so I'm hoping it won't be that hard to convert him lol!

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That's awesome!!! :gj:

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

That's awesome!!! :gj:

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Yeah! :D Fingers crossed lol
But back to the question, do you know if there's any good ways to find good local breeders?

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Originally Posted by Ditto

Yeah! :D Fingers crossed lol
But back to the question, do you know if there's any good ways to find good local breeders?

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Locally, I don't really know.
You could try Craigslist. If you're on Facebook you could try that.

Hm so I'm not sure if ordering online is a great option for me at the moment, I looked on perfectprey.com and if I were to buy enough to last me 6 months (which is how long I've heard they last in the freezer?) it would be just as expensive as the pet stores lol
I think I'll join some facebook groups (which I was planning on doing anyway haha) and post there, and maybe post here and craigslist :)

How much are they charging at the pet store? I pay about $2 for a small rat, $3 for a medium. Adult mice are only about $1.50. That's at a reptile store, not online.

Just curious. Good luck

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Wharf Rat

How much are they charging at the pet store? I pay about $2 for a small rat, $3 for a medium. Adult mice are only about $1.50. That's at a reptile store, not online.

Just curious. Good luck

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

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OH I forgot to mention I only have big chain pet stores near me, and they charge about $2 per small mouse (only in packs of 25 for $70) and I don't think they have rats
I think there's a reptile/exotic pet store about 2 1/2 hours away from me but I'm pretty sure they're only slightly cheaper than the chain stores :(

I'll second perfect prey, they are amazing. Good quality and great customer service

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

I'll second perfect prey, they are amazing. Good quality and great customer service

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That's what I've heard but I'm just not sure it's worth it for one snake, as I said before, I checked their website and ordering from them would be nearly as expensive as the chain stores :/

What size prey are you feeding your BP?

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

What size prey are you feeding your BP?

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I know they are waaaay too small but I've been feeding him 4-5 pinkie mice at a time (it was all they had left at the show)

Most young BPs can take hoppers or small adult mice easily.

As for finding local sources of rodents, ask around all the vet clinics, especially if any take care of "exotics" or reptiles...many times vet techs (or even vets)
keep snakes & other exotics too. If there is a zoo near you, ask them as well.

Do you have a picture of your BP and how old is it?

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Do you have a picture of your BP and how old is it?

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Yes, he was hatched lateish july
This picture is from the day I got him. I'm going to try to get him something bigger before i feed him next, does that sound okay? How long should i wait?https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d8050c2450.jpg

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If all he ate this time was a few pinkies, I'd feed him again in 5 days...otherwise, wait a week.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

If all he ate this time was a few pinkies, I'd feed him again in 5 days...otherwise, wait a week.

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Okay, that was my plan originally, thanks for the confirmation :)

You could order (25) hoppers and (25) small mice from Perfect Prey. With shipping it should cost about $66. That's enough to last almost a year if you're feeding every 7 days. The feeders are vacuum sealed so they'll definitely last.

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

You could order (25) hoppers and (25) small mice from Perfect Prey. With shipping it should cost about $66. That's enough to last almost a year if you're feeding every 7 days. The feeders are vacuum sealed so they'll definitely last.

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Would they last a whole year though? Unless they're individually sealed I would have to open the bag and wouldn't be able to vacuum seal it again
(not trying to be argumentative btw! I feel like I might come off that way but I'm really just trying to get all the info I can, I promise haha!)

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Originally Posted by Ditto

Would they last a whole year though? Unless they're individually sealed I would have to open the bag and wouldn't be able to vacuum seal it again
(not trying to be argumentative btw! I feel like I might come off that way but I'm really just trying to get all the info I can, I promise haha!)

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A couple of things.

1. All the rodents from Perfect Prey, as well as Big Cheese Rodent Factory, both of whom I use, come vacuum sealed. Not individually, but you can get several packages and vacuum sealed and kept frozen, will last 1.5 to 2 years.

When you open a new package of rodents, make sure to keep them frozen and in FREEZER ziplock bags. I triple bag mine and get all the air out that I can when putting them back in the freezer. Again, using the FREEZER bags (I use gallon size), not the normal ziplock bags that are not designed for the freezer, you should easily get 6 months out of the rodents before even thinking of tossing them or them getting freezer burned. I date all my bags and get 6 months easy.

2. I think I put in one of your last posts, but you were asking about size of rodent. This chart is awesome for that. The only thing I potentially disagree with is duration between feedings. My adult female BP (1700G), refuses a ton of meals if I offer every week. However, offering every other week, aside from her winter fast, she eats 4/5 times or more. You can stretch out feedings when your little guy is much bigger and see how he does. If, as an adult, he's maintaining, or growing slightly, it's fine. I do not think adult BP's who are non-breeding need to eat every 7 days, necessarily.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ding_chart.jpg

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Originally Posted by Ditto

Would they last a whole year though? Unless they're individually sealed I would have to open the bag and wouldn't be able to vacuum seal it again
(not trying to be argumentative btw! I feel like I might come off that way but I'm really just trying to get all the info I can, I promise haha!)

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I usually break them into smaller packages and feed as needed. I bought feeders in January and I've got enough for another 2-3 months. I have no doubt they'll be fine.

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Originally Posted by Ditto

Yeah! :D Fingers crossed lol
But back to the question, do you know if there's any good ways to find good local breeders?

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There's a place in south Jersey called hometown rodents he has a Facebook page. He's a local guy that breeds rodents not a lab and has high quality with low prices the only problem is he doesn't deliver by mail.
I meet him at a Denny's in Bordentown every two or three months along with half a dozen other breeders and buy what I need to hold me over until the next trip.

Do you guys think that 25 hoppers and 25 small mice last him a whole year? Like would they be big enough for that long? I'm thinking ordering them might be my best option and I wanna make sure I get the right sizes

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Originally Posted by Ditto

Do you guys think that 25 hoppers and 25 small mice last him a whole year? Like would they be big enough for that long? I'm thinking ordering them might be my best option and I wanna make sure I get the right sizes

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I wouldn't order hoppers. They're already too small for your BP. They typically only eat hoppers for their first few meals.
It really depends on how soon you want to switch to rats.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

I wouldn't order hoppers. They're already too small for your BP. They typically only eat hoppers for their first few meals.
It really depends on how soon you want to switch to rats.

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Oh okay, what would you recommend getting? How hard is it to switch to rats?

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Originally Posted by Ditto

Oh okay, what would you recommend getting? How hard is it to switch to rats?

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How hard it is varies snake to snake. BPs can be frustrating or they can switch first try. But it's typically advised to switch while they're still fairly young.

In your situation, I would probably wait a little while, since your snake has started with mice and is only getting pinkies. Let him get a few solid months of properly sized meals and then try to switch over.
I switched my BP over some time after he hit 400 grams and he switched first try. I've only had one other BP and she was already on rats when I got her. The rest of my snakes have all been other species.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

How hard it is varies snake to snake. BPs can be frustrating or they can switch first try. But it's typically advised to switch while they're still fairly young.

In your situation, I would probably wait a little while, since your snake has started with mice and is only getting pinkies. Let him get a few solid months of properly sized meals and then try to switch over.
I switched my BP over some time after he hit 400 grams and he switched first try. I've only had one other BP and she was already on rats when I got her. The rest of my snakes have all been other species.

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Okay, so would 25 small mice and maybe 25 rat pups be okay? Would a different size rat be better/more suitable?

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Originally Posted by Ditto

Okay, so would 25 small mice and maybe 25 rat pups be okay? Would a different size rat be better/more suitable?

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That would work. I think if it were me I'd go with weaned rats though.

I dont know if it will help, but here is my story with my Ball Python and how i feed her as she grows...
but remember this is my Python's story and they are
ALL DIFFERENT.

Got my Normal Female BP on February 2018
(she was born in December 2017)

(NOTE: i always Feed her 1-2 rodents per feeding,
every 7 days) (depending on the rodent's weight and girth compared to her's)

She was 92g when i got her, and i first fed her mice fuzzies i bought at the petstore (local not bigbox)
After 1 1/2 months she was 120g and i had almost ran out of mice. and i was SOO afraid of buying too many rodents that where either to small or to large. So after many many hours of research and planning.
i bought this supply of RATS:
10 Rat Pinky: 10g
10 Rat Fuzzy: 15g
15 Rat Pups: 25g
25 Rats Weaned: 35g

she switched over to F/T Rats with no trouble (thank God)
and as she continued to grow rapidly, i would always feed her around 10% of her body weight every 7 days. Bumping her up a size once the old size became to small to be bothered with.

Now 6 months and many rats later.
She is a healthy 800g BP who just finished up her weaned rat supply (i feed her 2 weaned rats a week) and she eats them with no effort.
I Have ordered this next supply of RATS that will hopefully be just as successfull:
10 Weaned Rats: 35g
10 Small Rats: 65g
20 S/M Rats: 85g
20 Medium Rats: 110g
(Medium is the largest single size i would ever give. even to the biggest BP's)

Once again this is MY BP and how she personally grew.
I just provided her a constant of 10% of her Empty Weight
every 7 days. She did the rest and has never missed a meal.

I dont know what this post acomplished, i just wanted to share my BP story with you all.
(i might make this story its own thread but idk)

Update, just ordered a years worth of rats & mice from perfectprey! Unfortunately they're not gonna ship until wednesday (two day shipping), kinda wish I hadn't waited so long, but better late than never, right? Anyway, super excited to finally give my little guy what he needs :)

I was feeding my new snake Petco large frozen mice and they smelled horrible and the sizes varied wildly. I just received my order of large mice from Perfect Prey last week. They arrived frozen, appropriately sized, and have hardly any smell at all. I'll definitely be doing more business with them.