So I saw some of these "things" at the small show a couple weeks ago and the tidbits I get here and there interest me more and more. As I read about this rodent I keep thinking more and more that there is no reason NOT to try and run with some.

Apparently little or no urine smell and litters of 20-25. I don't think they get as big as the rats we are used to, maybe small/medium size comparison? For those keeping snakes that don't require adult size rats (BP keepers?) these might bring some nice conviences. I "have" to raise my rodents in a back room of the house because frankly they wouldn't survive the high's of summer or lows of winter here in MI and my garage is not setup with insulation. I keep the rodents in the same room as our computers where we unfortunately can spend alot of time. Generally I am used to the "smells" but outsiders definately know its not "normal". Anyway I'm thinking rodents that breed with large litters...bigger than mice...urinate very little!!!

I also come to realize we (I) are talking about ball pythons here and most of us generally know how these snakes can be about food items. I personally have had no real issue between mice and rats or vise versa with my long term BP's. I then wonder about if I sell reptiles I've bred and raised started on these african rats how will they fare to the end keeper? Will these African rodents become popular enough to be considered common food item (or pets?!)

These rodents are fairly new yet or at least seem to be in the reptile scheme of things with the price tag I saw for a treo at the last show. I am also seeing them pop up elsewhere for ~$100/trio. If they propagate as fast as I am reading they do, I'm not sure "getting in early" will have any affect other than that I will have paid a crap load more now rather than later when I would assume they would be much cheaper. Still something I have been turning over and over in my head. I might even look for them at the show this coming Sunday and get some more info.

What are your thoughts on this seemingly near perfect solution for rodent breeders specific to ball pythons or otherwise?