On top of that, you will need to buy extra cages and fill them with proper humidity, lighting, and amenities. Frozen Rats. .083 cubic feet /tub (12″ x 6″ x 2″) Could anyone give me some tips on breeding my own rats, for snake food, some things I wanted to know would be how much I would need to get started, what I would need, and the basics on how to go about breeding them, because I'm not sure if it's as simple as putting them in the same cage together or anything. Remove the babies from the female when they are the right size to feed your snake. You can certainly put them together as soon as you think is adequate, but realize that you may not get litters very quickly, especially if the females are seasoned and large breeders. .83 lbs ea wk /rat Our frozen rats are bred in natural conditions and are an excellent diet for your pet snake. But now I want a answer from someone who actually does breed rat ! Mice can make great pets, and if you have some, you might want to breed more for yourself or to give away. If each rat costs $.50 a pop and you need to buy 160 rats a week to feed your 80 snakes, that can easily be $64 for just one week! I can get them at the store but what I would like is to support someone who has breeding rats and/or mice AND get them better priced than the stores. The general consensus amongst reptile enthusiasts is that heftier bodied snakes such as pythons and boas benefit greatly from consuming rats on a regular basis. But if you want to offer a more varied diet, there are pet snake food alternatives available. Commercially available rodent bedding is a good choice, although you can use shredded newspaper you already have on hand and use that as a low-cost alternative. Week 6 – You can put the females together to nurse both litters, the pups are old enough now that they should all be strong enough to each get their fair share of milk. Most snakes eat lots of mice and rats in the wild. She will begin to build a nest as labor approaches, and babies will be born in rapid succession. Owners and breeders recommend feeding rodents to snakes. Oct 20, 2015 - This Pin was discovered by Kimberly Morrison. Females go into their own tub by themselves to birth. Latest Supply Update: PetWave has limited small & medium Bulk Woodies but have heaps of Bulk Crickets & Bulk BSFL - … .42 cubic feet /week (for 5 tubs) my snakes are gettin' bigger to the point wherre mice are snacks and would much rather give them a small rat. 9.5 weeks /bag Some of you may not care the cost and are interested solely in raising quality rats to feed your animals and that is understandable, but it’s always nice to see a little bit of math and how much everything adds up. Most wild snakes eat small animals such as mice and snakes and replicating a natural diet is important for optimal health. i am thinking of doing this because it seems more cost affective. Without them, you would not be able to keep your snake. This video is for everyone who is interested in this kind of breeding or just keeping rats as awesome pets. A specially designed lab chow for breeding rats with 21% protein and 8% fat or around there is best. Louise Lawson has been a published author and editor for more than 10 years. Cost to Raise Your Own Feeders- Is it worth it? Pick up a rat and look at the base of the tail to determine gender. Feeders or not, they deserve respect. breeding rats for snake food? Mothers do need nest building material. 2.4 weeks /bag They should have their litters during this 4th week. someone give me some good links or videos to breeding rats. Once a female has reached either of these two markers, I consider her to be able and ready to breed. The male will approach the female and if she is receptive, she will turn her rear end towards the male and allow him to mount her. 3 scoops /tub Week 3 (day 21)– After the 3 weeks, you will remove the males from the tubs and put them into one large tub/cage to keep each other company. Once the females reach 5 months of age, or 250+ grams, they are old enough and big enough to breed with minimal risk. Week 8– The pups will be weaners and need to be removed from the mothers, separated by sex to grow up, or be euthanized with CO2. For that reason, I will wait to breed my males until they are near or over 300+ grams. 50 lbs /bag Shape The World. Mice and rats are often raised as food for snakes and reptiles, but can make fun and loving pets. You can CO2 the litter, and you’ll have 18 – 32 weeks worth of food in your freezer for 1 snake. -Female rats are able to breed sometimes as early as 5 weeks, however it doesn't guarantee a high number per litter. This method is NOT for snakes that will only eat LIVE prey. Rat and mice breeding is commonly done by reptile owners for feeding their pets. Set up your rat housing. i wan to breed some rats for snake food. Breeding rats for snake food is a simple and cost effective means of keeping your snake full and healthy. Most males at this age will have noticeable testicles while females will have two rows of nipples along the underside of the belly. In a nutshell, using frozen mice as a food for your snake has several advantages over using live mice. Rats appear to suffer negative effects when not with a partner. I have 28 snakes in various sizes so I can use a mix of them. $0.69 each rat + $0.23  ($0.23 is what is costs to ship each rat total = $30). $25 * 3.18 bags = $79.50 /year, Bedding Pellets Some snakes feed exclusively on rats and mice, and purchasing them every time doesn’t make sense. With this process, your 2 females will have anywhere from 9-16 pups average. Your rats will mate repeatedly in a short time, so leave them together for at least 24 hours to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. © 2020 WILD SKY MEDIA. http://www.metalmonkeyexotics.com/blog/?page_id=1212, I attempted to do some math, to see what you’re really spending on raising rats rather than ordering FT online. Place one water bottle and food bowl in each tub, refilling with fresh food and water daily. -Female rats are able to breed sometimes as early as 5 weeks, however it doesn’t guarantee a high number per litter. Frozen rodents are also ideal for raptors (birds of prey) as they eat rats and mice in the wild. It may be because she does not recognize him as a suitable or desirable mate. Once they reach the 15-17 month mark, I will retire them to baby sitting duty for grow up females or weaners. .I have a boa and he eats live mice but the pet store's breeder is now in jail so...i got the mice today and their are in a 45gallon fish tank, there is 3 males and 3 females. It is estimated that 20,000 people in China have been lifted out of poverty by breeding bamboo rats. Considering how much time it takes to raise a female rat, or to choose females I believe will improve or maintain high production in my colony, I do not want to lose a female rat because of simple impatience. It’s not only convenient to store but also safe. This is not only economical, but saves you a lot of time, smell and frustration. (I rounded up just to cover any incidents and averages from my own colony), Food Place your male and female together in your breeding tub and allow them to mate before moving the male back to his own tub. Small snakes such as corn snakes will eat babies that are a day or two old while larger snakes such as boas can eat fully mature rats. This video pet care tutorial shows how to breed and raise rats, mice, and other rodents. Being kept on the schedule in this article, my females have shown to produce good sized, healthy and chubby litters up to and over 15 months, even if it is a small litter near the end; and females will gradually produce smaller litters as they age. (Maybe 5, if you need to raise up rats). $269.52 /year. Line the bottom of each tub with an inch of clean bedding. If your snake only eats live, I do not recommend this. $269.52 /year, Buying FT Bulk online I have read on rat lovers page's that they WILL die ! If you decide to breed mice for any reason, you’ll want to provide them with safe, comfortable living conditions, and treat them humanely. Considering how much time it takes to raise a female rat, or to choose females I believe will improve or maintain high production in my colony, I do not … the mice & rats at my pet store are expensive- $40 for mice for 1 month & $60 for rats for 1 month. Some snake owners may be concerned that rats may be too big for their particular breed of snake. You can get away with regular hamster food etc, but a more varied diet is good - mine loved the rat nuggets, but I didn't feed them exclusively on those as it's not different enough. Everyone is welcome to double check those numbers. The money from this paid for the rodent food and bedding ultimately meaning that our snake food cost us nothing but our time. How Often Should You Feed a Gray Rat Snake? Large storage tubs work very well for breeding rats, as they are large enough to house both adults and young rats without overcrowding. Empower Her. your own Pins on Pinterest Perfect Prey is a leading supplier of frozen feeder rats, which are ideal for reptile breeders and pet snake owners. Week 1 (day 7)– Check on the little love birds! This means you wouldn’t need the 2 holding tubs. **If you plan on just feeding weaners, you can CO2 the animal at 4 weeks of age. 40 lbs /bag Breed away. Below is a short excerpt based on a topic from the forum Ball-Pythons.net by Sean (aka, Lord Jackel). With this set up, you can use either a rack (link to DIY for RACK) or tubs (link to DIY for TUBS), given they are big enough for adult rats to live in comfortably. More slender species of snakes that are commonly kept as pets such as king snakes, corn snakes, … This is still more costly than buying bulk F/T or from the pet shop, especially in initial setup cost, but it does guarantee quality food for your snake. However, some species of rats are bred for shows and keeping as pets. How to Know When My Rat Is Going to Give Birth, How to Tell if Corn Snakes Are Male or Female. Therefore, feeding frozen rats to your larger pet snake completely removes this risk. They do a good job of socializing with the younger girls. 2.4 months /bag does anyone here breed their own snake food?...the mice/rats. If you have snakes or other pets that eat mice for food, breeding your own can also be cost-effective. $209.52 /year, Aspen l x w x h (Aspen is cheap and has been given very generously. Purpose of Breeding Rats. For those reasons, I go by the rule of  “5 Months, or 250+ Grams“. They are a great source of food for medium sized snakes and a natural prey for Ball pythons and other African animals. PART OF WILD SKY MEDIA | FAMILY & PARENTING. Observe the mother and babies quietly without disturbing them to avoid upsetting the female. 3.32 lbs eaten /week Discover (and save!) At the very minimum, I recommend buying 4 young rats. Week 4– Both mothers should have plenty of nesting material. hi all im thinking of breeding rats for snake food is it safe because ive heard of people saying that the rats might have parasites and could pass to the sake just need some suggestions and ive asked some snake breeder and they said its safer an easier to buy frozen rats … Like mice, they need a high protein and high fat diet to manage the demands of breeding. I do not support other methods, I understand some commonly practiced methods may be approved by the AVMA, but only for qualified and supervised professionals in a controlled environment. I used to keep rats - I don't know how much I'll help though, since I kept them as pets and not just for breeding. You’ll need at least 3 different spaces for these animals. Its rancid! You need one tub to house females, one tub to house your males and another tub for each pregnant female to raise her litter in. African Natal Rats (a.k.a Soft Fur Rats or ASF’s for short) are a medium sized African rodent of particular interest to reptile hobbyists. Reptile Snake food from PetWave Australia. .99 each small rat Similar to all our packing methods, we seal the frozen rats in plastic packs individually and include a couple of packs of dry ice to keep it frozen in transit. He got into the snake game over ten years ago and is well-renowned for his high quality snakes. They about 5 weeks old now and I was wondering what will happen to the female if they start breeding as soon as they sexually mature ! Dog food containing similar ratios of protein and fat are fine, providing they have no dyes or preservatives. Furthermore, when you buy it in bulk, you get great prices as well. Christmas Delivery Times: PetWave is continuing to deliver overnight to your door via premium courier through Christmas - read more here. If you have 1 snake, I still recommend either buying bulk F/T from online suppliers. What's the most likely thing to happen if she gets pregnant soon! Ok from personal experience I have tried breeding rats for my snake... he eats them alive... and you are going to have one hell of a time with the smell! Prepare ahead of time and give yourself at least 2 months in advance to produce more weaners. 36 scoops /bag $38.16 shipping /box, $38.16 * 2 (for shipping once every 6 months) = $76.32 shipping /year, Raising your own feeders: Warwick started Rodent Farm through the frustrations of not being able to … 3.77 months/ 50 lbs bag Day 1 – Pair up one male and one female into each tub. and you have to buy/build housing for all of them. and can i have 2 females and 1 male in a 25 quart steralite tub with locking lid. Breeding rats is not just a case of putting a male in with a female. 5 snakes means 5 rats per week * 26 weeks (6 months) = 130 rats total, Avg. Large storage tubs work very well for breeding rats, as they are large enough to house both adults and young rats without overcrowding. Fish, worms, amphibians, and eggs are suitable for most snakes. Think about your reasons for wanting to breed rats before you start a breeding program. As always when embarking on a new project, the first thing to outline is the COST, and it’s no different here. Shredded aspen works very well. 4 rats to feed Once a female has reached either of these two markers, I consider her to be able and ready to breed. Lawson specializes in pet and food-related articles, utilizing her 15 years as a sous chef and as a dog breeder, handler and trainer to produce pieces for online and print publications. How Long Does It Take to Hatch Corn Snakes? Set up your rat housing. 21.67 bags /year * $6 = $130.02 /year, Raising your own feeders Week 2 (day 14)– Is momma getting big yet? Natal rats are often referred to as a “miracle food”. Hello, I am looking for mice and/or rats at good pricing. Baby snakes are voracious eaters and usually, need a couple of rats a week to grow. 2.6 bags /year 5 tubs /week Consider your breeding goals before you begin. The debate on feeder breeding is a particularly contentious one, and many people within the rat-community feel very strongly about it. Black Pastel Orange Dream Spider Yellowbelly, But you don’t want to be over run with rats either, 1 large tub or cage for the males while not breeding females, Optional **2 tubs for any weaners that you need to grow up to a larger size (one for each sex). 4 cubic feet /bag **It should also be noted that any females that have a poor  experience (extended hard birth, cannibalize litter for any reason after many successful litters, poor health after weaned) she is evaluated and it is decided whether to retire with good quality of life, or if it would be more humane to put her down. Gestation in rats lasts for 21 to 28 days and your female can give birth to as many as 20 babies. While there are many ... DO SELL BABY RATS FOR SNAKE FOOD. 12 tub changes /bag ٭Rats are social animals and need to have a partner at all times! I strongly believe in responsible ownership of all animals, including feeders. 5 bags /year * $12 = $60 /year, Raising your own feeders w/ lots of aspen Breeding rats. The cost of rat food has risen considerably, and we have not done a review to update for current costs. what kinda rat can i get that will be the size ov a small feeder rat? 20 /bag Frozen Rabbits I checked and double checked, but I very well could have missed something. I got a female and male rat 2 weeks ago! We used to produce enough rats and mice to have plenty for the snakes and enough surplus to sell to local pet shops. Breeding rats is very easy and it can also be very profitable, you can either sell them as pets in the local newspaper or other publications, or sell them as live food to snake and other reptile owners, or you can sell them directly to pet shops. It outlines the general costs for raising rats to feed 5 snakes for 6 months. Note 4/25/15 – These costs represented below are from 2007. Unfortunately, Metal Monkey Exotics no longer keeps or breeds Norway rats! Watch your female closely for signs of pregnancy. It outlines the general costs for raising rats to feed 5 snakes for 6 months. This week we quickly outline how to setup and run your own rat breeding collection to feed all your awesome snakes. They MUST be separated by sex!!! Separate your rats by gender when they reach four weeks of age if your snakes are big enough to eat adult rats. And if your snake doesnt eat them alive, your going to have to kill them yourself which is just way beyond what you should have to … Breeding rats for snake food is a simple and cost effective means of keeping your snake full and healthy. If you plan to breed rats to sell on a large scale, then you will need to have an appropriate venue as well as lots of supplies, such as food, cages, and bedding. -Males are fertile between 6 and 7 weeks of age, however, many females will not allow a male of that size and age to breed with her. Warwick Denshire has been keeping and breeding animals for as long as he can remember. A large variety of species can be successfully kept as pets and are often purchased as a first pet due to their relatively docile nature and ease of care. Mar 14, 2018 - How to Breed Rats for Snake Food | Animals - mom.me The cost of rat food has risen considerably, and we have not done a review to update for current costs. Hope this helps those of you willing to pay for quality. thank you. I am writing this small section to direct you to my Humane Euthanasia article that outlines the socially and humanely acceptable methods for euthanizing your rats. Food: Mazuri 6 or 9F, Harlan 2016 or 2018, Kent rodent feed or a healthy. The reality remains, though, that just as we gain pleasure from keeping rats, others gain pleasure from keeping snakes and other carnivorous reptiles. They should weigh anywhere from 60-80 grams avg. Bedding: Pine pellets, shavings or recycled newspaper pellets. This is an optional number) So whether you decide to feed live, pre killed or FT, know all the dangers involved with each method and properly ready yourself for any and all mistakes, the care of, or exceptions. Be Her Village. 13.28 lbs /month If you’ve taken the time to buy young rats and socialized them, you’ll have a much easier time dealing with the mothers and her young when cleaning or moving. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. For those reasons, I go by the rule of "5 Months, or 250+ Grams". Note 4/25/15 – These costs represented below are from 2007. Snakes have made the transition from pest to popular pet in recent years. For their physical and mental health, they need to be with other rats. Both females are being bred at the same time. 3.18 bags /year This method is ONLY good for a snake that eats Frozen Thawed prey. $51.48 /year FOR 1 SNAKE I feel that the margin of error is too large to promote with good conscience regardless of the condoning by the AVMA. 2 males, 2 females. With us, highest quality of frozen snake food is always guaranteed. Continuing to deliver overnight to your door via premium courier through christmas - read more here humidity, lighting and... Gray rat snake Maybe 5, if you want to offer a more varied diet, are. Enough surplus to sell to local pet shops checked and double checked, but I very for. 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Rather give them a small rat line the bottom of each tub refilling... 28 days and your female can give birth, how to Tell if Corn snakes are gettin ' bigger the. And babies will be born in rapid succession could have missed something for than. Those of you willing to pay for quality 9-16 pups average food?... the mice/rats of or... For their particular breed of snake does breed rat mental health, they need to buy extra and! Has several advantages over using live mice published author and editor for more than years! Advantages over using live mice and pet snake owners they eat rats and,! Ll have 18 – 32 weeks worth of food in your breeding tub and allow them to before! Snakes that will only eat live prey diet is important for optimal health reach...