Where do you get your feeder rodents?

[DreDeuce]

Ok, I haven't switched to f/t yet, and it is my fault because I should have converted her a long time ago. I tried once with a 2 pack of small rats, and she didn't take. (14 bucks down the drain) I may have been over zealous because when I was dancing it in front of her, it looked too big for her (at the time).... So, needless to say, I have been feeding live for a year now. Well supervised. Well, the pet store I go to, (won't say any names) does not sale their "pets" as feeders..they started hassling me about 2 months of owning my BP. But now it's just getting annoying. Way too many questions and statements , i.e.-"are you breeding these?", "there're dying off awfully fast", "what do plan on doing with it?"- and the list goes on and on of dumb stuff I've heard this past year. I always go in there, humble, but with the attitude that the customer is always right, and they haven't refused a sale...... Yet. But I'm getting so sick of thinking that, is that one manager chic gonna be there, or this is it, they are going to refuse me. I just wanna scream "sell me the rat, so I can be on my way!." (Rant over) but that's just it, she is eating small rats now, live! Have you seen the teeth on these bad boys? Jeez, I don't want my beautiful snake suffering from one of those bites! I very confident that I can get her to make the switch. So, the point of this thread, is where do you get your feeders from? I saw that Rodent Pro has some decent prices, and a pretty good presentation online. Any other good suggestions? What to expect when I place my first order

[predatorkeeper87]

Ok, I haven't switched to f/t yet, and it is my fault because I should have converted her a long time ago. I tried once with a 2 pack of small rats, and she didn't take. (14 bucks down the drain) I may have been over zealous because when I was dancing it in front of her, it looked too big for her (at the time).... So, needless to say, I have been feeding live for a year now. Well supervised. Well, the pet store I go to, (won't say any names) does not sale their "pets" as feeders..they started hassling me about 2 months of owning my BP. But now it's just getting annoying. Way too many questions and statements , i.e.-"are you breeding these?", "there're dying off awfully fast", "what do plan on doing with it?"- and the list goes on and on of dumb stuff I've heard this past year. I always go in there, humble, but with the attitude that the customer is always right, and they haven't refused a sale...... Yet. But I'm getting so sick of thinking that, is that one manager chic gonna be there, or this is it, they are going to refuse me. I just wanna scream "sell me the rat, so I can be on my way!." (Rant over) but that's just it, she is eating small rats now, live! Have you seen the teeth on these bad boys? Jeez, I don't want my beautiful snake suffering from one of those bites! I very confident that I can get her to make the switch. So, the point of this thread, is where do you get your feeders from? I saw that Rodent Pro has some decent prices, and a pretty good presentation online. Any other good suggestions? What to expect when I place my first order

perfect prey, big cheese, rodent pro are the 3 you'll most likely hear about in this thread. I buy local/raise my feeders so I have no input on actually purchasing from these companies however.

Also I'm guessing since they are questioning you its a big box store right? Tell them to stop questioning you or don't expect any more business. It will quiet them down fairly fast. Its also a tactic of stores so you feel like you need to buy their extremely overpriced frozen rats.

[Craiga 01453]

The best value is to buy from reptile conventions and expos. After that, the ones listed above are the ones I hear of most often as well. I haven't used them either, but they pop up in these threads, so they must be good. I try to buy from expos, a few months worth at a time. From what I understand, shipping is extremely pricey ordering online and kills the savings, but still a ton cheaper than your local stores

[DreDeuce]

Yes, PredatorKeeper. It is that type of store. Sometimes I just wanna say, look up my account in the computer and see what all I have spent and invested! And you really wanna turn that business away? I wonder who made that bummy policy? You sale snakes, but people can only buy food that you deem "proper" and"humane" . Doesn't make any sense. And the one store that does sale feeders, only sale Mice, I don't want to have to spend 20 dollars per feeding, just so I can stuff her with four little runt mice, plus after viewing their reptile section, I promise myself I would never return to that store, I felt so bad for the animals, and it infuriated me.

[predatorkeeper87]

The best value is to buy from reptile conventions and expos. After that, the ones listed above are the ones I hear of most often as well. I haven't used them either, but they pop up in these threads, so they must be good. I try to buy from expos, a few months worth at a time. From what I understand, shipping is extremely pricey ordering online and kills the savings, but still a ton cheaper than your local stores

yuuup didn't even think about expos, that's by far the best value hands down.

[DreDeuce]

I live in Alabama, not too many Expos coming through here, but I am only an hour away from Atlanta. I guess I gotta start researching when they are in town. Plus, besides getting good feeders at a good price, I would love to go to Reptile Expo anyway! Thanks for the advice

[Craiga 01453]

Yeah, being that close to Atlanta, I'm guessing there are at least a few a year. I live in Massachusetts and I know there are a few a year in Boston and a few a year in NH that are both about 45 mins from me. Definitely worth the drive a few times a year. You get to stock up on feeders, check out some amazing animals and meet some cool people. If you only have a few snakes it should be financially worth the drive. Factor in gas and entry to the show and you're still saving money over any other method of getting feeders. Plus you get to spend a few hours surrounded by reptiles and people who share our passion.

[Meerna]

I've ordered from Perfect Prey myself, but I hope to find another expo coming through near me soon to save a bit on shipping. I know how you feel about the store giving you crap though. I have a Petco and a Petsmart in my city, and Petsmart has a policy that they don't sell feeder rodents. I don't know why, but luckily while my snakes were on live I was able to go to Petco instead. I can't imagine having to go to Petsmart and be questioned like that, and I'm glad all of mine switched to f/t pretty easily.

[predatorkeeper87]

I've ordered from Perfect Prey myself, but I hope to find another expo coming through near me soon to save a bit on shipping. I know how you feel about the store giving you crap though. I have a Petco and a Petsmart in my city, and Petsmart has a policy that they don't sell feeder rodents. I don't know why, but luckily while my snakes were on live I was able to go to Petco instead. I can't imagine having to go to Petsmart and be questioned like that, and I'm glad all of mine switched to f/t pretty easily.

I had their "fish expert" question why I was buying 10 danios...a 1.5" fish...and that they can't sell more than 6 because my tank wouldn't be big enough...then I told her it was a 125 gallon and she still questioned me...called corporate and made the district manager call me lol.

[EL-Ziggy]

I live in Atlanta and I don't have a trusted local supplier so I use Perfect Prey for my f/t feeders. I could save part of the shipping fees if I went to one of the reptile expos but they're usually an hours drive each way. I'm not buying any new snakes so for me it's not worth the two hour round trip drive or the possibility of me coming home with mites. The flat rate shipping at Perfect Prey is roughly $30 which isn't too bad since I usually order about 6 months of feeders at a time.


http://www.perfectprey.com/