ok...i think i want to start breeding

[jben]

Hey, i've been reading on breeding, i would like to breed my own since it's hard for me to get the sizes that i need all the time unless i buy f/t. but i would like to give breeding a try. i'm thinking of starting with a small colony of maybe 1.2 in a tub. now what size tub would be ok? what to feed or find feed at? i'm entirely new at this whole rat breeding thing so any help is appreciated.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

First you need to establish how many feeder you need each week

A female will have between 6 to 12 babies gestation will last 3 weeks and it will take 3 to 4 weeks before you can wean the babies.

The reason I am mentioning this is to help you find out how many female you will need in rotation to produce a certain amount of rats each weeks.

As far as food goes you need to stay away from pet store food, your best bet is to find a mazuri, harlan, or kent food dealer (Mazuri has 25lbs and 50lbs bags)

As far as tubs I would recommend having at least least 3 or 4

One for breeding
One for the female to nurse
One to keep your youngs once weaned.

You can build a small rack (we have a few DIY here) or you can have a stand alone tubs 54 quarts will do nicely.

Start off with buying your females get the small and raise them up until they reach 250 grams than buy your male this way you will not buy females that are too old to breed.

[suzuki4life]

What size do you feed, how many and how often?

[jben]

This is looking more like a big project, lOl. Deb/suzuki, I feed a small to my spider(1200+g) and cinn(930+g) weekly. my normal male(270g) gets a weaned weekly. my baby pastel will get a pup for now. my normal female(2300+g) gets a small weekly or a medium bi-weekly. Deb by stand alone tub, do you mean only one to house them all in? The pet store i buy my rats from does have some nice ones but not the supply that i need. Thanx

[tomfromtheshade]

My advice is to build a six level mortar tub rack using the small mortar tubs.

You can use three of tubs for females and rotate the male in between them.

Then you can use the other three tubs for grow out tubs.

My advice would to be to freeze them off as they get to the size that you need them.

You don't have a lot of snakes so this would probably be the best approach.

[suzuki4life]

This is looking more like a big project, lOl. Deb/suzuki, I feed a small to my spider(1200+g) and cinn(930+g) weekly. my normal male(270g) gets a weaned weekly. my baby pastel will get a pup for now. my normal female(2300+g) gets a small weekly or a medium bi-weekly. Deb by stand alone tub, do you mean only one to house them all in? The pet store i buy my rats from does have some nice ones but not the supply that i need. Thanx

okay so
3 smalls, 1 pup, 1 weaned weekly x 4.333=13 smalls, 5 pups, 5 pups a month

I can build you a very small rack using mortar tubs.....

Personally, I would run a 1.2 with 2 extra tubs (total of three tubs)

with a 1.2 I wouldn't worry about a nursing tub. Let them in with the adults until their eyes open. I have the feeling that if you use birthing tubs, they will outgrow your needs too quick to use them.

Extras I would offer up on craigslist or use the freezer. You should have 2 grow out tubs in use with this method so a supply should be easily kept. If done properly.....top level would be adults and pinks or pups (unweaned)
second level would be one-two month old. Third tub would be 2 month and older. Once they exceed your needed size, either freeze them or offer them up to others. I would keep one month worth of food in your freezer. I personally would recommend you rotate it out and replace with fresh once every 3-6 months.

[suzuki4life]

My advice would to be to freeze them off as they get to the size that you need them.

You don't have a lot of snakes so this would probably be the best approach.

I agree with that idea 100%

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Deb by stand alone tub, do you mean only one to house them all in?

I mean something like this



however being you will need a minimum of 3, I would just go ahead an build a rack it will save space and will be much more convenient in the long run especially if you have a watering system (Changing water bottles gets old real quick)

[jben]

thank you all. i think i'm going to go ahead and build a small 3 shelf rack like you suggested and start with 1.2 for now. does anyone has dims on a small rack? where do you find those mortar tubs and what size would you reccomend? i'm guessing i would find the food at local farm feeders? again thanx for all the help.

[suzuki4life]

thank you all. i think i'm going to go ahead and build a small 3 shelf rack like you suggested and start with 1.2 for now. does anyone has dims on a small rack? where do you find those mortar tubs and what size would you reccomend? i'm guessing i would find the food at local farm feeders? again thanx for all the help.

mortar tubs can be found at Lowe's or Home depot...

measurements are honestly best done to suti your needs but tons of good sites...

http://www.rodentracks.com/Large-Tub-Rat-Rack.html

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/rat_rack/ratrack.shtml


just go on the Mazuri site and look up dealers.

For small production, I highly recommend spending the extra and buying mazuri 6f feed.