The Time Has Come

[chadphillips8352]

Well, I knew this day was coming. I currently own 7 ball pythons. In an effort to supplement my food income, I decided to try breeding rats. I bought one male and female, just to see how it would go. Well, the female had 10 babies on December 23rd, making them almost three weeks old. They will likely go on the chopping block during next week's meal. Now, I've just got to stay strong and not let their cuteness do me in. Rats are food! Not, friends! Stand with me, brothers and sisters!

[aldebono]

Breeding your own feeders is definitely rewarding! It's really hard not to get attached to the cute little faces. Congratulations on your first of many litters!

[steve_r34]

Man its the hardest thing I've ever had to do I think but like everything else after a while u get used to it

[martin82531]

How are you going to euthanize them?


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[Sama]

I still hate feeding them when they still have their puppy faces but it is sooo worth it and can be a very rewarding endeavor.

[Rhasputin]

I can't do it with rats. They are just too cute as babies. Mice and ASFs just look a whole lot less cute as babies. Rats are so chubby...

[MrLang]

You can keep them sometimes. With 7 snakes I think you'll want more females. If you're comfortable, you should hold back 2 more females for 1.3 - hold back the ones that are the least skittish, most healthy, and don't bully the other babies. Resist the urge to hold back based on color/pattern alone.

[chadphillips8352]

How are you going to euthanize them?


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I plan to build the "Rodent Gas Chamber" that I've seen floating around on the web. Rubbermaid container and CO2 tank. I want to be as humane as possible.

You can keep them sometimes. With 7 snakes I think you'll want more females. If you're comfortable, you should hold back 2 more females for 1.3 - hold back the ones that are the least skittish, most healthy, and don't bully the other babies. Resist the urge to hold back based on color/pattern alone.

Was already thinking of this. I also have lucked out and have one baby left from another litter that I bought from my normal rat supplier that I believe is female, which will help to not dilute my gene pool too bad. I also have the benefit that the rest of rats in the main litter look almost identical, so I wouldn't be tempted to save a certain genetic trait regardless. Thank you for the advice.

[thejenius77]

Why do you have to euthanize them? Just because you don't want to feed live? Or because of population control/space, so you have to freeze them? I'm just curious, because I've contemplated rat breeding.

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[chadphillips8352]

I'm thinking more for population control/space. I've fed some live to my snakes and haven't had a problem yet. I always watch until the snake has killed the rat. However, once I get my snake rack set up, I'll probably go for F/T or prekilled, that way I can leave the food in the tubs if the snake is taking a while to eat.