If you do the math, even with the high shipping most of the online companies, it comes out to be a pretty good deal.

Here's how things worked out for me with RodentPro:

Petco: 50g rat = $5.00
Rodent Pro: sixty 40-80g rats X $0.79/each = $47.40
plus $40 shipping = $87.40

Which brings you to a total of $1.46/rat

So, sixty rats from rodentpro = $87.40 (including shipping)

Sixty rats from petco (or similiar place) = $300!!

I would say it is cheaper to buy online (but I'm no genius, so someone correct me if I am wrong).

If you can get your hands on a foodsaver, you are in really great shape. I have a friend I borrow one from, and when I get my rats, I individually vacuum seal them. They will last for a year or two in the freezer that way.

So, if you have the freezer space, and can vacuum seal them, you should be able to save a great deal of money. (Heck, with the money you would save in the first year, a foodsaver would pay for itself!)

Hope this helps!

Later,

George