What feeders?

[Destarte]

I'm sure this question has been asked. But what breed of mouse or rat would be the best investment for myself financially, and the snakes bellies? I'm looking at starting a SMALL colony, maybe 1.3. My father has a redtailed boa and I have a sand boa and 2 corns. The redtail is eating small rats, the sand boa: fuzzies and both corns are on pinkies. Is there a commercial/DIY rack system that is nearly escape proof? AND the smell, I want to avoid this as much as possible. Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Fatman608]

Is there a commercial/DIY rack system that is nearly escape proof?

YES most DIY mouse and rat are nearly escape proof.

 

[Destarte]

Is there a link to a certain one you'd recommend? I met a guy breeding ASFs today and recommended Sterilite tubs with a hole in it for the water bottle, then he put an aluminum sheet around the hole so they couldn't get through to start nibbling.

 

[Fatman608]

So you need me to work did you not notice my name. I am FAT and LAZY so here is a few.

For rats

For mice

For rodents

I can not give you my plans because they are only for sale (1,000,000 USD). What you need to do is google and search the DIY section here and at that evil place called Fauna Classifields there is a link to it on the main page.

 

[Destarte]

Thanks Fatman. I really appreciate it. I like that last one that's linked. I'll have to start working on one next weekend.

 

[Buzzard]

Fatman has you hooked up there.

The "rat" link is where I got my ideas for my racks.

rat/asf rack

Table top (mice/asf)

old pic of the mouse house (shed)

I also use lab cages but found they cost $30 each and for that I could build a 4 teir mouse rack.

 

[Destarte]

I know I'm going to sound dumb... How do the rats/mice reach the rat block. It's so high up...

 

[Buzzard]

I know I'm going to sound dumb... How do the rats/mice reach the rat block. It's so high up...

Its not a dumb question. The bins are not to tall that adult rodents cant reach the food bins. I got where I use larger 1/2 mess in the food bins and 1/4 inch mesh for everything else. They can easlily chew the food through the 1/2 mess.

Sometimes when I put weanlings in the bins and it seems tall. I put food dishes in with them until the rodents gets large enough.

 

[Fatman608]

A grown rat is tall enough to reach the food is it stands on its hind legs. The mice and ASF if the tub is to tall will jump and grab hold of the wire mesh and eat that way or you can add extra bedding so they can reach.

 

[Destarte]

I'm always dealing with mice, I forgot how big rats can get. I suppose it makes plenty of sense. Thanks for the quick response. I think I might start with a small rack, we only have 4 snakes at the moment. My girlfriend and her parents go to almost every reptile and exotic show in the Midwest, I might produce some of these and see if I can sell a few. I see most people using just sterilite containers for their feeders.

 

[Fatman608]

Buzzard - you need an auto water system. Way to many water bottles to fill for me.

 

[Buzzard]

lol, I do. Just havent got around to ordering the parts. I actually just started a large (new) double rack with two tubs per level(12 tubs total). My plans are to finish it and add a watering system to that, if it works out. This past spring I went down in numbers, but I do plan on uping my colonies for next year. I have well over a 100 hatchlings planned for next season and lordy I will need the pinks.

 

[Fatman608]

Watch out with Sterilite containters, if you give a mouse a corner to chew on he will chew his way out in time. The tubs I use and looks like buzzard use are cat litter pans or you can use dish wash tub that have a flat top. Van Ness use to make a good cat litter pan for mice but now they have a curved top and the mice can chew on the curve top and chew there way out. You will just have to find a tub that will work for you.

 

[Destarte]

Most of the racks I've seen are using concrete mixing tubs from Lowe's. That's what I had PLANNED on using. I know I can get the tubing/connectors for the auto-watering system from Lowe's. What about the sipper? I've seen some kits, and they're about 5x what it would cost to make it yourself.

 

[Fatman608]

Ag Select is where I got my water supplies from. link for Ag Select

 

[Destarte]

Well, I still haven't started breeding my own feeders, but I'm getting damn close. I'm still faced with the problem, WHAT should I breed?

Mice
Rats
Haireless Rats
ASFs

I know snakes develop an addiction to ASFs, but I figure if I'm breeding them, I really wouldn't have a problem there. What should I choose?

 

[Fatman608]

If all you have is Corn snakes, I would breed mice. If you have Corns and Balls, I would breed mice and ASF.

 

[Destarte]

My father has a Colombian Redtail. But it will eventually outgrow everything I would breed. I'll probably just pickup a quad of mice. Thanks Fatman!

 

[DISCERN]

Destarte,

If you currently only have 4 snakes, at the moment, it may be financially cheaper to just simply buy frozen mice for your snakes and rats for your father's boa.

If raising mice/rats is going to be done well and done right, the cost of quality rodent food, bedding, and other possible factors may actually cost you more than if you simply just ordered frozen rodents for these 4 snakes. I have known of cases where the raising of rodents took up more money and time than the raising of the snakes.

Just some food for thought.

 

[Buzzard]

Discern,

I agree to an extent. Another factor to think about would be distance to pet shop/supply of rodents. I live in no mans land. So using a 1/2 tank of gas to go to and back from the nearest pet store would be crazy. The local co-op supplies me with Aspen and orders my mouse chow, so in certain cases it can be better to breed your own, even with only a handful of snakes. Its actually why I started breeding my own. When I started breeding mice, I only had 5-6 snakes. As you mentioned time is a huge factor and location. I am lucky I have a shed just for the rodents, so they dont stink up the house.