How is ordering f/t rats online worth it?

I was looking today because I'll be going back to school soon and thought ordering rats online would be cheaper. I was happy to find a bag of 10 medium rats at Rodent Pro to be $12 or so. Then I calculated shipping. $41?? How is that worth the money? I can get them for $6 apiece at Petco and pay no shipping. I only save $7 or so by ordering online.

Is there any better way to get f/t rats?

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Originally Posted by mrshawt

I was looking today because I'll be going back to school soon and thought ordering rats online would be cheaper. I was happy to find a bag of 10 medium rats at Rodent Pro to be $12 or so. Then I calculated shipping. $41?? How is that worth the money? I can get them for $6 apiece at Petco and pay no shipping. I only save $7 or so by ordering online.

Is there any better way to get f/t rats?

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bulk

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Originally Posted by dreese88

bulk

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exactly.

you don't buy one bag of 10...you buy 5 or 10 bags of 10...or more...depending on how many you have

Unless you order for multiple snakes and order at least 100+ rodents it is not worth it.

You might want to look into buying your f/t from pet stores specialized in reptiles or even from Petco.

We have mini fridges in my suite. My set of buildings has a normal sized fridge which not too many people use, but I have a feeling people would screw with the rats or throw them out thinking they're gross. I really want to make the switch so Petco can stop stealing my money, I'm just not sure I have the options yet.

Thanks.

I bought a mini freezer for mine.

http://www.bizrate.com/freezers/haie...areprices.html

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Originally Posted by Nate

I bought a mini freezer for mine.

http://www.bizrate.com/freezers/haie...areprices.html

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Those are nice. We have a big one in my basement, but I'm not home enough to use it.

Oh well. It looks like Petco will continue to hoard my money until I get a stable housing situation for myself after college.

Thanks everybody!

i found a few people on craigslist and went in with them on an order, spilt the shipping a bunch of ways and its not that bad

You could see if your family would mind you keeping them in the freezer at home, and make the parents happy by visiting every week to pick up rats, lol...it's worth saving the money, I think.

I've wondered the same thing. Since we have just 1 snake, the difference between ordering online and buying from Petco/Petsmart locally came to just about zero.

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Originally Posted by Seneschal

You could see if your family would mind you keeping them in the freezer at home, and make the parents happy by visiting every week to pick up rats, lol...it's worth saving the money, I think.

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I would if I didn't go to school 500 miles away haha. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Patricia

I've wondered the same thing. Since we have just 1 snake, the difference between ordering online and buying from Petco/Petsmart locally came to just about zero.

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It will (when I begin doing so) make a significant difference for me, however, even though I only have 5 snakes. Over 5 months, ordering online I'll spend $150. If I continue to purchase my normal amount, at my normal local store, I will spend $400. That is to say, $20/week, 4 weeks a month, 5 months. It really does, over the long run, make a difference--for, obviously, more than one snake. I would assume, however, that the savings would be much higher when you get to owning a much larger collection.

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Originally Posted by mrshawt

I would if I didn't go to school 500 miles away haha. :rolleyes:

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Hahahaa! Yeah, that might make a teensy weensie difference! :rolleyes: It sounds like for you, just sticking with petco is the only real option, unfortunately.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Unless you order for multiple snakes and order at least 100+ rodents it is not worth it.

You might want to look into buying your f/t from pet stores specialized in reptiles or even from Petco.

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i get mine from petco. its not to much because i only have to feed one snake. when my collection grows i will move to ordering bulk.

oops double post. internet is being fussy. sorry.

I'm in Mass too and would be willing to split shipping :)

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Originally Posted by Calift

I'm in Mass too and would be willing to split shipping :)

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Thanks for the offer, but I'm leaving for school in 2 weeks and can't drive 500 miles with ratsicles haha.

Its not really worth it when you only have one or two snakes to feed. But once you get 10 or 20 and you have multiple mouths to feed and multiple size prey items they need then you want to order in bulk. And usually you can find a local breeder that will sell to you in bulk and that helps save alot you dont have to pay shipping.

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Originally Posted by mrshawt

Thanks for the offer, but I'm leaving for school in 2 weeks and can't drive 500 miles with ratsicles haha.

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Yeah my University is a long hike as well.....if only the border guards knew what was in my coolers and sterilites :cool:

I just buy in bulk at reptile shows. Theres always someone there selling them for pretty cheap. I'll buy a 6 month supply and then when I'm close to running out I'll buy another 6 months supply at the next reptile show. I spend $20-30 every 6 months on food.

Sorry for the thread hijack but this question is sort of on topic. How long will rats stay fresh (edible?) when frozen?

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Originally Posted by justind

Sorry for the thread hijack but this question is sort of on topic. How long will rats stay fresh (edible?) when frozen?

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Yeah, I was just thinking about asking that too, so it's no problem. :)

I don't know where you are, but ARS and other places offer two-day UPS ground, which comes out to about $20 for box, ice and shipping, plus if you buy, say 2 bags for less than a buck each for each rat, it is VERY worth it! Save on gas, time, and you have a nice surplus of rats.

Shop around, there are a ton of sites, and finding one nearby or in the one or two day zones will save you a lot of money!

You could also check around in your area and see if you can get a deal on live rats. You could by a bunch of them and then make a CO2 chamber (really easy with dry ice and a cooler) and then freeze your own.

Later,

George

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Originally Posted by knott00

I just buy in bulk at reptile shows. Theres always someone there selling them for pretty cheap. I'll buy a 6 month supply and then when I'm close to running out I'll buy another 6 months supply at the next reptile show. I spend $20-30 every 6 months on food.

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Do this. Thats what I plan on doing. Theres a small reptile show by me every month $4 to get in or something but thats still like saving $40 on shipping for me. The mice i have no are from petsmart.