I have been breeding mine for approximately a year now. Started with a very nice 1:3 ratio from Jon (they were very nice and tame) Picked up a 3:10 ratio from a show and carefully culled the biters, nippers and jumpers (they will still jump if startled).
I have steel tubs so no worry about chewing out of anything.and they do walk upside down and can get to my automatic watering system with no problems. I don't know how much they drink exactly, but when I cull for feeders, I have to keep refilling the bottle..so unless you have bookoos of time on your hands, I would go with the automatic watering system, because it frees up a LOT Of time and if you want to go out of town for a weekend, the watering issue is taken care of.
Mine are not biters, but I am sure they would nip me if I startled them. They don't rush to the front to kill me, but they do come to see what kind of treat I have now. I give: grapes, bird seed and millet, nuts, Timothy hay, on top of lab blocks.
A pic is worth 1,000 words so without further ado:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...Duchess007.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...Duchess010.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...Duchess008.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...Duchess011.jpg
I read the caresheet of a woman that had been keeping them for a while. Her suggestion (in a nutshell) was tht most things/animals respond to how they are cared for. I am not saying that mine won't bite, anything with teeth will bite on a bad day. It's nust that they are getting a bad rap in my opinion and they are no where near as vicious as they are being painted by some.
Reply With Quote