Breeding Rats

[BallPython713]

I've been haveing lots of trouble finding small frozen rats. I thought that sometime during the summer I could breed rats out in my barn and when they get to the size I need them I could freeze them for the rest of the summer and winter. What do you guys think about this?

[Smulkin]

Freezing would be good - in fact you might really WANT to do that to stave off whatever parasites they might pick up in the barn. I do know from experience mice REEK - I have heard rats are much less stanky.

Of course you could always order from rodentpro.com or another supplier and have a buncha frozen shipped to you (which is what we did once we realized the undertaking of breeding as many as we'd require).

[BallPython713]

Ya they sure do know how to smell! I tried to breed mice before and boy did they stink up my room!

Yes I know about the onling rodent stores but I can't really afford to spend over $100 for one snake. If I had more snakes like others on this site, I might consider it but it's just a little too costly for me. And since there's no big petstores around where I live, my options are limited.

[BallPython713]

Has anyone else ever tried to breed rats?

[JLC]

I haven't tried to breed them...but to answer your original question, I think it's a fine idea to breed some yourself and freeze 'em to use as needed. Doesn't seem like it should be too complicated.

[Smynx]

Well, I can tell you from experience that mice breed VERY easily. (Too easily :roll: ) I can't imagine that rats would be much different.

[BallPython713]

Thanks for all your encouragement!! I have two 10 gal. tanks and a 50 gal. (i think) tall. I figure the largest one for an enclosure, one of the 10 gallon tanks for a nusery, and the other one for breeding grounds. What do you all think?

[iceman25]

I tried to breed mice but ended up offering them all as dinner! They stank up the whole apartment and none of my friends wanted to visit!

[JamminJonah]

sounds good to me BP713 - yeah I've heard rats stink WAY less than mice. This raises a good question though - is there anywhere online you can place an order less than 100 dollars for good quality rodents?

[RPlank]

I breed my own rats. It doesn't get any easier. Throw em together, they do their thing, you have lotsa rats! Much less stinky than meeces. I keep mine in a 75 gallon aquarium. They breed like.....rats.....and I recently had to freeze a whole bunch because there were too many and they were overrunning the tank.