thinking about breeding rats and mice.

[marmie]

Figuring how many to breed takes a little practice. If you know other reptile lovers you might make some extra money by selling off over flow or giving them away.

One other thing that you my want to consider, pythontricker, is the smell. Mice and Rats are really stinky.

[pythontricker]

Figuring how many to breed takes a little practice. If you know other reptile lovers you might make some extra money by selling off over flow or giving them away.

One other thing that you my want to consider, pythontricker, is the smell. Mice and Rats are really stinky.

Yeah, thats what a lot of people are telling me. I am keeping them in my garage.

[stangs13]

Yeah, thats what a lot of people are telling me. I am keeping them in my garage.

I have no idea where you live, but if it gets hot make sure you have alot of fans on them! They slow breeding down when it gets hot. Rats don't smell if you keep them on pelleted bedding and clean them weekly! Oh, and alittle vanilla never hurt!

[pythontricker]

So what are your exact weekly requirements? =)

06 Male Normal BP; One small or medium rat
07 Female Albino BP; One small rat
07 Male Spider BP; One adult mouse (Switching over to small rat soon)
08 Female Pastel BP; Two hoppers
08 Unknown sex, Sorong GTP; Two pinkies

[pythontricker]

I have no idea where you live, but if it gets hot make sure you have alot of fans on them! They slow breeding down when it gets hot. Rats don't smell if you keep them on pelleted bedding and clean them weekly! Oh, and alittle vanilla never hurt!

Yeah the hottest it has ever gotten here is 90. I live down by the beach in San Diego CA. I will be sure to have a little floor fan that I can just pug into the wall, and set it towards them. Vanilla? what do I do with that?

[Jay_Bunny]

You add the vanilla to the water. It apparently helps reduce the smell of their urine. I don't use it. I keep my rats and mice on wood pellet bedding I get from a supply store for $7 and then put a layer of aspen over that. I have virtually no smell unless I let the cages go for more than a week without a cleaning.

[pythontricker]

that sounds good I will be sure to do that! anything to reduce the smell is good. and the rodents will like the taste of the water a little better!

[Peter Williams]

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=62980

That pretty much sums up how I do it.

[pythontricker]

thanks that looks really great! I am just going to have like four tubs though.

Do you need anything for the mice and rats to play with? like those wheels or little climbing things?

[littleindiangirl]

I have never personally tried the vanilla with the rats, but word of advice, if you put too much vanilla in the water, and it turns color, it tastes HORRIBLE (bitter and ickky).

You'd have more of a chance of deterring the rats from drinking the water which concentrates their urine (stinky) and leaves them dehydrated.

I would just start out not using vanilla, especially if your keeping them in the garage. Put a fan on them for when it's hot out, and just change them every week. If you really cannot stand the smell, (which I personally dont smell anymore! LOL), then try out with a couple of drops of vanilla in a bottle of water and go from there. I hear immitation works the best, real vanilla is too alcoholic tasting and expensive.