I began breeding my own when I hit about 8. Well technically I started breeding them before, but nothing too much. Now I'm trying to get my colony to the point where I provide for myself. I had to start breeding my own feeders because the drive to the store is about 20-30 min both ways, so thats 40-60 min worth of driving, plus the food bills is somewhere around $30-$35/week now. Its easier to just buy the food and bedding to breed my own. I feed 11 snakes a week (well 12 now) and two of my females are on a heavier feeding schedule so I can get them up to weight for the breeding season. (eating every 5 days instead of every 7)

If I were to be supplying my own, I would be saving about $50+ a month. I just need to expand the colony a bit and get all the rats on a schedule for breeding.