I think my older female would have been my best breeder if I had gotten her at a younger age. We adopted her rather than bought her so she could have been a pet for over a year before we got her.

I must say though, I love my rats. They have their own personalities and are such funny little things. Monk and Nibble come running over when I put my hand in the cage. They climb all over my hands and arms and just love the interaction. I'm thinking about just abandoning the idea of breeding mice and sticking with rats since the only snake in the house right now that eats mice is our baby corn. And then the only other animal that eats mice is our ferret but she'll eat anything and should have no issue switching to rats.