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Thread: I want to breed rats. need help.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    Maryland
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    Default I want to breed rats. need help.

    Hey guys,


    I'd really like to breed rats and/or mice. I don't need that much husbandry help necessarily although little known facts and helpful tips would be appriciated. i need to find the most economical way to house a rat/mouse colony (I'd like to end up breeding both.) Should I build my own rack system? would that be cheaper. I'd like to have enough rats to feed my tegu and a couple boas and pythons every week and some to freeze. While on the subject of freezing, what is the most humane way to kill a rodent before you freeze it. I don't think they just bash them over the head at rodentpro...


    Or should I get one of those freedom breeder racks? or should I wait for a show and buy a used rack? let me know what you think


    Thanks, Randy
    1.0.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
    0.0.2 African Pyxie Frog
    1.0.0 Blood Python
    1.0.0 Albino Burmese Python
    1.0.0 Blue Tongue Skink
    1.0.0 Basilisk
    0.0.1 Cane Toad
    1.0.0 Albino Western Hognose


    Roaches (Dubia & Lateralis)

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    Finger Lakes, NY
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    Default

    my racks are 5 "cement tubs" & run about $70 to build + water bottles
    I use pine bedding, 1.3/1.4 rats per tub, & i buy the Mazuri 6F* 50lb bags from my local Agway ($18 a bag 3 bags every 2 1/2 - 3months)
    my racks look almost the same as Mr Critter (i think he's the one who posted the pics)



    *I've tried the 9F, but my ASF eat their babies when feed that stuff.
    1.2.0 Argen Black & White
    1.1.0 Red Tegu
    0.0.1 Blue Tegu
    1.0.0 All American Tegu
    0.1.0 Hypo Red Tail Boa
    1.0.0 Lazik Tiger BP
    1.0.0 Normal Paradox BP
    1.0.0 Cuban Tree Frog
    2.3.0 America Toads
    1.0.0 Masked Ferret
    1.1.0 Children
    Rats & Roaches (Dubia)

    RIP-
    0.0.1 RedxB/W Tegu (Stevie Wonder)
    1.0.0 Croc Gecko (Waylan Jones I)

    & More to come

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
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    Default

    Do you think it is cheaper/better then buying frozen rodents?
    1.0.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
    0.0.2 African Pyxie Frog
    1.0.0 Blood Python
    1.0.0 Albino Burmese Python
    1.0.0 Blue Tongue Skink
    1.0.0 Basilisk
    0.0.1 Cane Toad
    1.0.0 Albino Western Hognose


    Roaches (Dubia & Lateralis)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    Finger Lakes, NY
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    Default

    buying frozen is cheap, but the shipping is crazy.
    i have 2 - 5 tub racks (6 are 1.4/1.3 rats 4 are 1.4 ASF)
    i sell a few rats every week to other snake owners (cheaper than any LPS)
    and 1 month i make back what i spend in 3 months to breed them.

    i use 1 - 1.5 2.2cuft of pine bedding every week (walmart $7 2.2cuft bags)
    & the $60 in food..... i also have 20-40 rats in my freezer at any given time.

    & the "humane" way people kill rats are CO2 chambers. i personal set them down grasp them by the neck gently then squeeze hard really fast then use the tip of my thumb & separate their neck. (80% of the time quick kill other wise they twitch then die but still better than suffocating)
    1.2.0 Argen Black & White
    1.1.0 Red Tegu
    0.0.1 Blue Tegu
    1.0.0 All American Tegu
    0.1.0 Hypo Red Tail Boa
    1.0.0 Lazik Tiger BP
    1.0.0 Normal Paradox BP
    1.0.0 Cuban Tree Frog
    2.3.0 America Toads
    1.0.0 Masked Ferret
    1.1.0 Children
    Rats & Roaches (Dubia)

    RIP-
    0.0.1 RedxB/W Tegu (Stevie Wonder)
    1.0.0 Croc Gecko (Waylan Jones I)

    & More to come

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Jersey! ^_^
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    Default

    My cousin is also looking forward to breed rats and mice, so I'll put all this info. to good use! He really needs an idea on how to build a place to keep them properly, maybe I can get pointed in the right direction with some pictures or suggestions so I can share them with him? Please and thanks?

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    Location
    Maryland
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    Default

    Hhmmmm I dig that set up Pikey. You're smart. They ought to give you a raise. lol.


    Where can i find ASF? I doubt my local guy has them. He's VERY sporadic with when animals come in. I was looking at Co2 chambers on....rodentracks.com...I think that was the site. One consist of using dry ice and a bucket....basically you take a five gallon bucket put holes in the top....put dry ice in the bottom, place the rat in a ventilated tupperware container...and presto he's out in like 10 seconds dead in like a minute (or less)


    Also How can i control oder? I've heard of using vanilla extract in their water...is that right? how much do I use?
    1.0.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
    0.0.2 African Pyxie Frog
    1.0.0 Blood Python
    1.0.0 Albino Burmese Python
    1.0.0 Blue Tongue Skink
    1.0.0 Basilisk
    0.0.1 Cane Toad
    1.0.0 Albino Western Hognose


    Roaches (Dubia & Lateralis)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Finger Lakes, NY
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    Default

    or u can build a vented box & rig up a CO2 tank (for paintball)
    1.2.0 Argen Black & White
    1.1.0 Red Tegu
    0.0.1 Blue Tegu
    1.0.0 All American Tegu
    0.1.0 Hypo Red Tail Boa
    1.0.0 Lazik Tiger BP
    1.0.0 Normal Paradox BP
    1.0.0 Cuban Tree Frog
    2.3.0 America Toads
    1.0.0 Masked Ferret
    1.1.0 Children
    Rats & Roaches (Dubia)

    RIP-
    0.0.1 RedxB/W Tegu (Stevie Wonder)
    1.0.0 Croc Gecko (Waylan Jones I)

    & More to come

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
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    Default

    does anyone know how to cut down on the smell? would the vanilla water work? Has anyone tried it?
    1.0.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
    0.0.2 African Pyxie Frog
    1.0.0 Blood Python
    1.0.0 Albino Burmese Python
    1.0.0 Blue Tongue Skink
    1.0.0 Basilisk
    0.0.1 Cane Toad
    1.0.0 Albino Western Hognose


    Roaches (Dubia & Lateralis)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Finger Lakes, NY
    Posts
    1,362

    Default

    i've know people to use it and it does work, to me it dont smell too bad, but if you even go a day past changing day it gets bad real fast.
    1.2.0 Argen Black & White
    1.1.0 Red Tegu
    0.0.1 Blue Tegu
    1.0.0 All American Tegu
    0.1.0 Hypo Red Tail Boa
    1.0.0 Lazik Tiger BP
    1.0.0 Normal Paradox BP
    1.0.0 Cuban Tree Frog
    2.3.0 America Toads
    1.0.0 Masked Ferret
    1.1.0 Children
    Rats & Roaches (Dubia)

    RIP-
    0.0.1 RedxB/W Tegu (Stevie Wonder)
    1.0.0 Croc Gecko (Waylan Jones I)

    & More to come

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    915

    Default

    i'm not sure what to do....I'm still thinking about some things....1) DIY or I could try and find a used freedom breeder. the more i think the more I'm liking DIY...but I'm still tempted by the freedom breeder. I don't want to put more money into it then I have to.

    2) the Co2 thing the paint ball canister thing looks like it could kills alot of rats fast but maybe be a little more $ (dry ice is like a buck a pound.


    Where did you get your ASF? I haven't really paid attention (until now) to mice and rats aside from them being feeders. Are ASF hard to find? expensive?
    1.0.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
    0.0.2 African Pyxie Frog
    1.0.0 Blood Python
    1.0.0 Albino Burmese Python
    1.0.0 Blue Tongue Skink
    1.0.0 Basilisk
    0.0.1 Cane Toad
    1.0.0 Albino Western Hognose


    Roaches (Dubia & Lateralis)

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