You might be able to find a new local breeder whom will sell Frozen to you. I am not knocking the large scale operations at all. But for my own personal sensibilities I wanted to actually visit the breeding facility and look at the rats and how they were housed and looked after. More importantly how they were euthanized, to me it is important that the death of food is 'clean and stress pain free as is reasonable. (yes I buy from a local butcher whom keeps his own farm animals and slaughters them himself too) The added bonus is I get to buy local, in the global economy cash moves a lot and if I can keep some circulating in my city the better it is for me. (I work as a photographer so local sales is 90% of my income) If I can't buy local, buy regional, and than national, then Americas.

Having a relationship with a local breeder really helps out too. I have a very stubborn mouse eater she will not switch and feed consistently. So she gets mice, it is nice to ask for the jumbo mice to be raised for her and have the breeder set them aside and raise up some especially for me. That and those oh.. I thought I have more... moments being able to call up and drive out and pick up what you need at 8 pm sunday is nice too. All that for an extra 11¢ a rat over ordering in.