Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 481

1 members and 480 guests
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.

» Today's Birthdays

Ziggy31984 (40)

» Stats

Members: 75,014
Threads: 248,474
Posts: 2,568,391
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, DetectiveIcarus
Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: New Breeder

  1. #1
    BPnet Veteran Moose84's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-20-2019
    Posts
    291
    Thanks
    122
    Thanked 268 Times in 137 Posts

    New Breeder

    As my collection grows my current supplier will probably not be able to keep up. Soooo.. I’m getting ready to purchase two ARS rat rack systems. Each is a total of 32 tubs. If I work off a 1.3 ratio in 32 of the 64 tubs and each female produces 6 rats I would be looking at a total of 576 offspring correct? For some reason I think I’m having a stroke during my calculations but if that’s the case How many raiser tubs would I need? Thanks for any help as I start a new adventure.

  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran
    Join Date
    10-18-2018
    Location
    Brady, TX
    Posts
    224
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked 264 Times in 129 Posts
    Images: 21
    I was just making a write up on this.

    Rats are live stock. With live stock you work averages.

    I've found you need 1.2 rats to snakes to be at a good production number so far. 12 rats to feed 10 snakes.

    I use home made racks and cement tubs. Nothing fancy. I've got something like 35 females in rotation soon.

    Paul

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to pbenner For This Useful Post:

    Moose84 (11-07-2019)

  4. #3
    BPnet Veteran Moose84's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-20-2019
    Posts
    291
    Thanks
    122
    Thanked 268 Times in 137 Posts

    Re: New Breeder

    Were my numbers off though? That just seems like a crazy number of rats for 32 tubs. They (ARS Racks) will pay for themselves in like 4 months.

  5. #4
    BPnet Veteran
    Join Date
    10-18-2018
    Location
    Brady, TX
    Posts
    224
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked 264 Times in 129 Posts
    Images: 21
    Averages by the math?

    Each rat at maximum will give you a litter every other month, so 6 litters per year maximum. It's probably closer to be 4 litters per year.

    Average litter size for most rats tends about 10. My lines have more, so 1 female rat will yield 40 offspring per year maximum with an average litter.

    1.3 groupings in 32 tubs with those numbers is 3,840 off spring per year.

    Since you'll want some rotation, you won't need nearly that many males, and you'll want to spread your litters out a bit, but yeah, you'll be producing enough rats to feed 70 or so snakes one meal per week at those numbers. Probably closer to 55 to 60 to be safe with hold back and anything coming in below average. More likely you'll be selling excess.

    Best,

    Paul

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to pbenner For This Useful Post:

    Moose84 (11-08-2019)

  7. #5
    BPnet Veteran
    Join Date
    07-07-2019
    Posts
    537
    Thanks
    19
    Thanked 434 Times in 278 Posts
    Images: 9
    As stated, rotate the males. Unlike ASF, pull the male rat out before the females give birth. The male will bother the heck out of your girls otherwise.

    Now, how many an what type of snakes are you raising? Might be smart to have one colony of mice or ASF also.

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to 303_enfield For This Useful Post:

    Moose84 (11-21-2019)

  9. #6
    BPnet Veteran tomfromtheshade's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-20-2010
    Posts
    550
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 106 Times in 88 Posts
    You should start by asking yourself how many rats you need to produce and what size those rats need to be. It is very easy to find yourself with an overabundance of rats and nowhere to put them. Also, do yourself a favor and cull hard in the beginning. Buy the best stock that you can find and select the best breeders out of the animals that you produce. If you cull hard in the beginning you will be left with much better stock for the long haul.

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to tomfromtheshade For This Useful Post:

    Moose84 (11-21-2019)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1