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Things I wish I had known when I started out breeding rats...
I thought it would be interesting to have a thread where people share the tricks of the trade they have learned. Things that would be useful to a breeder just starting out, or useful to established breeders.
I'll start out with some things I wish I had known about....
1) Pine shavings.
Most are kiln dried, and thus won't hurt the rats.
Helps a ton with odor control.
Cheaper than aspen most of the time.
Less dusty than many brands of aspen.
2) Buying rodent food in bulk. Buying online and at feed stores.
Even cheaper than dog food.
Much healthier than dog food.
Pet store prices are outrageous.
3) NOT using dog food.
It made the smell noticeably worse.
Rats got cysts due to greasy skin from the dog food.
It's more expensive than buying a decent lab block.
4) Using tubs instead of tanks.
Tanks are really freaking heavy.
Tanks have sharp corners that are hard to clean.
Tubs are very lightweight.
Tubs are very easy to clean.
Tubs are cheaper.
Who else has helpful tips?
[Python regius]
1.0 Black Butter Pinstripe (Amazeballs), 1.0 Pastel Butter Leopard (Thunderbeeper)
0.1 Spider (Charlotte), 0.1 Leopard (Spot), 0.1 Pastel (Buttercup), Fire Sugar (Abaddon), Crystal (Opalescence)
[Python brongersmai]
1.1 T+ Albino (Kushiel & Carmilla)
[Boa imperator]
1.0 Hypo 100% Het Leopard/66% Het Albino (Darcy)
0.1 66% Het Leopard/Albino (Gabby)
[Colubrids]
0.1 Cave-dwelling Rat Snakes (Betty Spaghetti)
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The Following 13 Users Say Thank You to meowmeowkazoo For This Useful Post:
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Christopher Pilgrim (08-28-2013),CoolioTiffany (10-30-2011),Dr. Pete (11-02-2013),Inknsteel (10-29-2011),JLC (10-27-2011),llovelace (10-28-2011),ReptilesK2 (10-27-2011),RestlessRobie (10-27-2011),Rhasputin (10-27-2011),shadowsnakes (10-28-2013),snakesRkewl (10-28-2011),Thom Noble (10-30-2011),Wapadi (10-27-2011)
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I dont have any tips to add becuase I havent bred any rats yet.
But this helped me, thanks!
[6.18 Ball Pythons ]
Clown, Champagne, Pied, Pastel Lesser, Enchi, Fire
Albino, Bumble Bee, Pewter, Black Pastel, Lesser, Pastel Het Pied, 2 Mojaves, 2 Pastels Het OG, 2 Spiders, 3 Het Pieds, 3 Normals
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Thx for the tips!
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
1.2 Normal Ball Pythons
1.1 Pastel Ball Pythons
0.1 Mojave Ball Python
1.0 Cinnamon Spinner Ball Python
0.1 Firefly
0.1 Cinnabee
0.1 het Russo
0.1 Champagne het Russo
0.1 Sugar
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Bearded Dragon
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If anyone can get a hold of SWIFT premium horse pine, it's GREAT!
$5 for 45 lbs, EXTREME odor control due to the shreds being very small, and packing tightly!
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Rhasputin For This Useful Post:
Jessica Loesch (10-28-2011),meowmeowkazoo (10-28-2011)
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BPnet Veteran
I use Dwayne Davis pine bedding. its shredded to the size of Sani Chips. Works GREAT.
BUt the Best and MOST Important Info is to Start off with HEALTHY STOCK.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to RichsBallPythons For This Useful Post:
Adam Chandler (01-25-2012),meowmeowkazoo (10-28-2011)
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Yeah im using a product almost like sawdust
Works great
Though i do like the pellets too
Be aware of nursing moms wanting to bite
Dont use pellets on babies, and keep bedding to a minimum. Ive lost a few babies after having them burrow and suffocating.
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The Following User Says Thank You to 2kdime For This Useful Post:
meowmeowkazoo (10-28-2011)
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BPnet Veteran
Re: Things I wish I had known when I started out breeding rats...
Originally Posted by 2kdime
Yeah im using a product almost like sawdust
Works great
Though i do like the pellets too
Be aware of nursing moms wanting to bite
Dont use pellets on babies, and keep bedding to a minimum. Ive lost a few babies after having them burrow and suffocating.
To add to this, Sawdust type bedding like pellets once they break down, Are small enough for the babies to breath in and plug up the air ways and die that way. Why i dont use pellets with my rats.
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The Following User Says Thank You to RichsBallPythons For This Useful Post:
meowmeowkazoo (10-28-2011)
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Registered User
best tip i have is to assume it will take a while to get a good size variety. ive got a TON of smalls still waiting to grow up some meds and larges lol.
0.1 wifey, 1.1 twins, 1.2 Mojave, 0.1 het hypo, 0.5 normal, 1.1 Pastel, 1.1 Spider, 0.3 Het Albino, 1.0 Albino, 1.0 Albino KSB, 2.2 Het pied, 0.1 Pastel Het pied, 1.0 Ghost/Hypo, 1.0 PH Albino Cal King, 0.0.1 sun conure, 1.1 normal fat tail gecko, 0.1 Rat Terrorist named Jenny
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The Following User Says Thank You to SHROP For This Useful Post:
meowmeowkazoo (10-28-2011)
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Good point. Don't START breeding when you need feeders. Breed before you need them, then you might have some by the time you need them.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Rhasputin For This Useful Post:
meowmeowkazoo (10-28-2011)
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Registered User
Where do you buy the rat food in bulk? Im doing the dog food,rat food, and scraps now. But I can clearly tell the dog food isnt too good...
0:1 GF
1:1 Blk lab/ Pom
1:0 BumbleBee
1:1 Yellow belly
0:1 Cinnamon
2:3 Pastel
1:1 Mojave
0:1 Spider
1:2 Het albine
0:6 Normal
0:1 Blackback
And also on the hunt...
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