I attempted to do some math, to see what you’re really spending on raising rats rather than ordering FT online. (I rounded up just to cover any incidents and averages from my own colony)

Raising 4 adult rats to feed 1 snake

Food
4 rats to feed
.83 lbs ea wk /rat
3.32 lbs eaten /week
13.28 lbs /month
50 lbs /bag
3.77 months/ 50 lbs bag
3.18 bags /year
$25 * 3.18 bags = $79.50 /year

Bedding Pellets
40 lbs /bag
3 scoops /tub
36 scoops /bag
12 tub changes /bag
5 tubs /week
2.4 weeks /bag
21.67 bags /year * $6 = $130.02 /year


Raising your own feeders
$209.52 /year

Aspen l x w x h (Aspen is cheap and has been given very generously. This is an optional number)
4 cubic feet /bag
.083 cubic feet /tub (12" x 6" x 2")
.42 cubic feet /week (for 5 tubs)
9.5 weeks /bag
2.4 months /bag
5 bags /year * $12 = $60 /year

Raising your own feeders w/ lots of aspen
$269.52 /year


Buying FT Bulk online
.99 each small rat
20 /bag
2.6 bags /year
$51.48 /year FOR 1 SNAKE
$38.16 shipping /box

$38.16 * 2 (for shipping once every 6 months) = $76.32 shipping /year

Buying Bulk online

$127.80 /year



Everyone is welcome to double check those numbers. I checked and double checked, but I very well could have missed something.