Want to start breeding rats for food!

[AMBiEN22]

Hello fellow ball python enthusiasts,

So this weekend I'm going to finish building my new snake rack, so I plan to get more snakes. Well I ran out of frozen rats and bought some more from my local reptile breeder. I currently pay two dollars per medium rat, and it got me thinking. If I get more snakes food bills are going to sky rocket.

So I have a few questions. My plan was starting with three females to one male and have a six tub custom built breeding rack. From there start a colony to breed.

First question would be how much money monthly would the upkeep be for this small colony.

Second whats the preferred bedding for rats?

Third whats the best genetic breed of rat for ball pythons?

I appologize for the sloppy post, and if it is in the wrong section.

Thanks ahead of time.

[ExotixTowing]

following this one...

[mschmied]

Check out the rodent breeding section on here...Very good info in there. Use the search option.

[Andrew21]

I would have put it in the "breeding rats" forum, but i'm sure it's fine. I'm not sure on price/month but i can buy a 50 pound bag of hog feed for 12 bucks, and 4 cubic feet of bedding for 6 bucks. I have a 1.1 colony of mice, but i have to raise the kiddies up to sub-adult. so at any given time i have about 12 mouths to feed. The feed will last me about 6months, and the bedding about 4. I've been"breeding" for only about 2 months and haven't ran out yet, so this is just a guestimate. I believe the best bedding is Kiln-dried pine. I don't think there is a breed that is specifically good for bp's. I hope this helps, probably doesn't, but still. Gave me a chance to ramble on.

[AMBiEN22]

I would have put it in the "breeding rats" forum, but i'm sure it's fine. I'm not sure on price/month but i can buy a 50 pound bag of hog feed for 12 bucks, and 4 cubic feet of bedding for 6 bucks. I have a 1.1 colony of mice, but i have to raise the kiddies up to sub-adult. so at any given time i have about 12 mouths to feed. The feed will last me about 6months, and the bedding about 4. I've been"breeding" for only about 2 months and haven't ran out yet, so this is just a guestimate. I believe the best bedding is Kiln-dried pine. I don't think there is a breed that is specifically good for bp's. I hope this helps, probably doesn't, but still. Gave me a chance to ramble on.

Thanks for the reply phoenix, and also to the others. I'm still on my mobile and I done have tapatalk or w.e. So its hard to navigate but I'll definitely head over to that section.

Anyone else that has input feel free to share. Understand I am competent and I know how to use the search feature but other threads dont always offer the insight I'm looking for. Also its nice to talk to active members in the community that like to chat. With that said, If your going to post that I need to search before I post, hold your breathe.

[cowbully]

With that said, If your going to post that I need to search before I post, hold your breathe.