Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[H.S.]

I have been informed that some frozen rodent suppliers are having trouble obtaining stock. I understand it is due to an outbreak of a disease amongst Rodents in Eastern Europe, a source for a lot of companies.
I also understand that there have been several cases of Snakes dying after being fed infected mice.

Has anybody heard similar? Can somebody confirm it is true, or is it just a rumour?.
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31August2008-Kent Reptile Show (Amphibians & Inverts welcome) for more information & Booking e:mail: mrac@sky.com

[Scott W]

Not heard of any infections etc but there will always be a shortage until the price of rodents rises to a level were they can actually be breed as a feeder item without losing money.

The vast majority of rodents used seem to be ex lab stock (from Europe) that is excess waste (not tested so OK to use ) but of course this means that they are extremely cheap for the wholesalers to buy (as they are a waste product ) but as such are not a reliable source because if there is no excess then there is no 'waste' for the feeder market.

Until the price rises to a level where they can be bred in the UK as a feeder item then there will always be intermitant supply.
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

[MJ]

When I kept snakes and a monitor I used to take the "waiste" from work (NIMR) each week, the bulk of lab mice there are used purely for genetics work. infact I used to get so many each week i would seperate them out and sell them to local pet shop the good old days eh
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Paul

For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad

[jon_g]

Breeding rats and mice commercially is quite expensive, if you are going to produce high quality food items on a regular basis.

a 200-300g rat (small) takes 2 months to get to that size, 400g+ 3 months.

Its a small world MJ, in the old days when I worked at medical institutes in london my reptile food was always free ! I moved out of london and down to Pfizer in kent. I had to start to pay for my reptile food which was quite a shock!

A few times I bought excess from lab supply companies in the UK, in the end I used honeybrook which 90% of the time i always got what I needed, I kept 2 x 6 ft freezers full of reptile food.

I did use the eastern european suppliers a few times, but the quality was not always great.
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[Herpquest]

Am I glad that we breed all our own feeders!
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If you don't know, ask!

[Scott W]