Starting to breed....

[azmodane]

So I think I'm going to start breeding mice... I have 4 snakes which all like to be picky eaters at times.. Don't know why but they just won't eat F/T sometimes... I would have loved to do rats but the gf won't allow that, lol.... So I went price shopping today to see what it would cost me to built a rack. Now my question is could you give the mice too much room? All my measurements are rounded but I found litter pans that are 16x12x4 for $4.98 18x15x5 for $7.48 or mixing tubs 27x19x6 for $5.91... The litter pans are more of a square shape where as the mixing tubs curve a little then flatten at the bottom.... I realize that with the small litter pans it will require a lil less wood to make the rack but for 1.00 more you get way more space... I guess just looking to hear some comments or recommendations....

[azmodane]

wow not even one answer? :'(

[Patrick Long]

My


4 snakes is not worth the time and effort of breeding rodents.

[azmodane]

so instead of breeding you're thinking paying 20.00 per week is going to be better?

[RR - Mackenzie]

so instead of breeding you're thinking paying 20.00 per week is going to be better?

No need to be snooty.

If you will be breeding mice, it will take a few weeks to get your colony set up, all of your breeding pairs breeding, and the first few times, the females will probably eat, abandon, or attack the babies.

Females are pregnant for around three weeks, it'll take a few weeks to raise them up to breeding size, and then the female still need to get enough energy to get pregnant again, nurse, and for the babies to get up to size.

It is too much work for just four snakes, not to mention the food costs, bedding, and the tubs for the mice. I think you will be better off buying in bulk if you can get your snake on frozen, or just spending the $20.

It will take too long, and the price may be a bit high in starting. You won't be able to feed your snakes for a few weeks every month if you choose to breed your own feeders. In my opinion, it just isn't worth it for four snakes, you'll end up having to buy more feeders from the store, anyways.

[azmodane]

I wasn't trying to be snooty and if I came off that way I'm sorry... I have frozen feeders here they just won't take them unless they go off feed for 3 weeks... and I understand I won't set everything up and then be ready to go the next day... I just thought once a colony was set and established that it would be more cost efficient than going through a pet store which wont be as great of a feeder.... And I wouldn't think that 6-10 tubs would be all that much work seein as they don't really need to be cleaned but once a week and a daily check to make sure everything is running smoothly....

[Shenzi Sixaxis]

Two tubs of mice isn't much work (1.2 and 1.3). It's been cheaper for me WITHOUT getting any litters dropped yet already, for just two young corn snakes. However, I plan on expanding to more corns and a few balls. If you're going to expand, I say go for it. If you find it's not working out, you can always stop. And, if you have your breeders stop suddenly and need changing out, you can just order some bulk. My 2 cents here.

Honestly, I think that if you have picky eaters, you should breed. 6-10 tubs is more than you need, I think, (unless you plan on selling off extras or need a lot of adults) but it's not too much work except for occasional culling, cleaning weekly, and a daily check.

[Tzeentch]

I only have 2 snakes and I breed my own. Beats paying $5 a week on mice from the pet store.

I feed the mice left overs and cat food. Cheap to feed. Just a pain to clean. But they are interesting animals and cool to keep.

The only down side is they smell really bad.

[tomfromtheshade]

I would use the 16x12x4, build a rack about 6 levels high and run them 1.2 per tub.

[bigray2110]

I have a five foot corn snake and a baby ball python and eventually am going to have more. my corn eats two currently but can easy eat three large mice. my baby ball has been eating a small every five days and am now going to feed it two small every week. So i decided it would be more cost effective and fun and interesting to breed my own feeders. Today was the end of my first week and have one for sure prego and one im almost positive. anyway i decided to do one male and two females. those are my only breeders. i set up three tubs 12x16x6 with lids that i drilled holes in, each one obviously had bedding, water bottle, food and dish, and toilet pape roll. i put all three mice in one container. now that my mice are prego i have seperated them. each mom has her own cage and a hide to nest under. the male is left in his own. after the pups are weaned the moms will return with the male, and the males and females will be split up into the cages. as i accumulate more mice i will purchase grow containers to further raise them. i decided to only do 1.2 because i live in an apt and do not want to get overwhelmed.