Low quantity mice breeding

[ThyTempest]

Hey everyone,

My friend currently has 2 bp's, one of which is a rescue that I will be taking in a few weeks. The rescue is quite a bit bigger than his (his eats 1 adult mouse, the rescue could do with 2). Neither have taken offered f/t, and my girlfriend and I would really prefer live feeding, for now at least (call me a naturalist, but I want the tank as real as possible, same should go for the feeders). I know most people say not to breed unless you have a lot of snakes to feed, but would low quantity breeding work since we are feeding all adults? The plan is for my girlfriend and I to breed/keep mice, which would be split up between my bp and my friends smaller one.

I think it would be possible to get a low frequency breeding set-up so that we are breeding 2-3 weeks worth of mice every litter, and replenish our breeders. With this, once we get everything set-up and stable, we would only have to breed every 2 weeks or so, then if we overpopulate, let off a week to feed off the few extras and start again a week later.

Let me know what you all think, or if you have a better schedule.

Also, I am planning on a couple tub set-up, but we also have a spare glass tank (15G i think)

[Mike Cavanaugh]

go for it. just set up a tank / tub with 1.2 (1 male, two females) then go from there. If you are like most of us, your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th snake is only a few months away anyway.

My honest opinion is that everyone considering it should give it a go with moderation. for instance, in your case, go ahead and try a trio. just be prepared, and read up.

I can honestly say that raising my own feeders has made the hobby 10 times more enjoyable. For me, raising the feeders is as much fun as raising the snakes themselves.... Heck, sometimes even more fun!

Mike

[ThyTempest]

I am iffy on multiple snakes. One, i would love having more snakes, but on the other hand, I am a very pet oriented person and I dont like the idea of getting to be a non-personal kind of keeper. Also, not sure my girlfriend would want more than 1 snake, and money is tight, so I think multiple snakes are at least a year, if not more, down the road, if they are ever to come.

I am majoring in Zoology and I think I am going to concentrate in genetics and deal with herps exclusively if I can. But that is a long way off, just finishing freshman year right now.

However, I will say that my sister (dating the aforementioned friend) is thinking about getting a snake for herself, though probably not a bp (she likes boas). If this happens (few months at least, then I am pretty sure the breeding would be a smart choice)

Once all of the snakes are big enough for rats, would switching to rats be a good idea, or would they grow to be too big too fast?

[Mike Cavanaugh]

wrong thread...

[Beardedragon]

you could Get a 1.3 group, and every time they get pregnant feed off the male and raise one of the new males or breeding? This would result in slow breeding and not over run you Though feeding off a breeding male makes my left eye twinge a little... breeding male mice are blessings in furry coats. So, separate that male until you need more babies!

[ThyTempest]

This may be a stupid question, but I assume it is fairly easy to tell males and females apart?

[Beardedragon]

Yes, Males have HUGE balls I also find that males grow a lot faster, even before their tidbits drop. Every time i'll see a batch of huge mice in my weaner bin and I can tell that they will be males.

[TooManyToys]

Breeding your own mice and/or rats is a nice way to go. I did that myself many years ago, but tired of the smell and the care they needed. So far, everything I have will eat F/T.

[Argentra]

I am iffy on multiple snakes. One, i would love having more snakes, but on the other hand, I am a very pet oriented person and I dont like the idea of getting to be a non-personal kind of keeper.

I can say from personal experience that having more snakes still allows you to be pet oriented. I currently have 8 total (4 corns and 4 BPs(one being shipped Thursday)) and they ALL still receive attention and love as pets. Yes I have that many because I plan to breed smalltime down the road, but these guys are my pets before all else.

As for small breeding of mice, Just keep it to one trio (1 male 2 females). I have three trios and if they all produced at the same time I would be so swamped! And I have 8 snakes...

[ThyTempest]

I have considered small time breeding down the road too (5+ years off at least), I mostly say I'm iffy on it because I really cant afford more snakes yet, and if I say i will get less attached, it makes it easier to realize i cant have more yet