Rats...Hamsters...etc...

[DragonBoy]

Many of you on the forum have helped me with the establishment of a strong breeding colony of rats and hamsters. Perhaps not directly but in things you said in other posts on the forum. The rats have also turned into being a sort of fun addition as they all have different personalities and are no where near as jumpy and paranoid as either mice or hamsters. I realized I was alergic to the mice and hamsters have filled that spot nicely. I am able to breed enough to keep my own fed, but am looking forward to getting enough one day to be able to freeze some for the babies coming in the spring. I have room for a couple more female hamsters and I must admit being able to know who's bred and when they will deliver is a plus to them. I figure if I can space hamster litters at 3-6 day intervals 8 or 9 females will produce 90-100 pinkies a month.
All of my breeder colonies are located in my office at home and don't seem to mind. The sub-adult snakes are also housed here and it seems to be working. My office is the warnest room in the house averaging about 70F in the winter. Rest of the house is about 64F.
I have had two questions come up that I have not located an answer for...someone commented to me that anything I start on hamsters will not convert to mice or rats is the one I am most curious to hear about others histories. The other issue is do the hamsters have an adequate amount of nutrition? I feed everyone the same thing..Mazuri 6F, dog bisquit treats once a day (1 per animal), and occassionally some cheerios to the hamsters.
I appreciate any comments. Happy New Year to all.
Scott

 

[susang]

I have had two questions come up that I have not located an answer for...someone commented to me that anything I start on hamsters will not convert to mice or rats is the one I am most curious to hear about others histories. The other issue is do the hamsters have an adequate amount of nutrition? I feed everyone the same thing..Mazuri 6F, dog bisquit treats once a day (1 per animal), and occassionally some cheerios to the hamsters.
I appreciate any comments. Happy New Year to all.
Scott

"someone commented to me that anything I start on hamsters will not convert to mice or rats" I'm not sure what you mean 'will covert' if it's care I treat mice, rats and hamsters the same, care wise. Food wise I was recently given the advice to give treats more like rats love chocolate and it's good for them. Hamsters love those little treats called yogies but they are expensive so I offer them little spoons of yogurt. Mice seem to like the yogurt, cheerios. I also found out the rats love cheetos, chex mix (the hamsters like it, this mice don't). I haven't tried it but scrambled eggs are supposed to be good. Again the hamsters like those bars you can buy at the pet shop, again those are expensive. I've made some with the smaller seed mix for hamsters, peanut butter and a little honey. I've stayed away from the dog biscuits because of all the additives, but have thought about making the home made ones. If your hamsters are producing and healthy, they likely getting proper nutrition the 6F I believe has adequate protein which is something I think we forget. I don't hink I've answered your question very well, but hopefully gives you more to chew on. susang

 

[DragonBoy]

what I mean by Convert...

What I meant by convert was that if the snakes were eating hamsters, then they would not eat anything other kind of prey that was offered. The nutrition info on hamsters relates to how nutritious they are to the snakes. I guess I was not clear there. The dog bisquits I use are an all natural puppy bisquits (very small). Everyone that produces produces well. I have several young females from October and November I held back taht have not started to breed yet. Hope this clears up any misconception and thanks Susang for the input.