Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Jon · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:01 pm Post subject: Small scale rodent breeding

So, I'm curious... Read up Scott's bit on his breeding of rodents, but I'd be interested to try this on a smaller scale (just for myself, and I don't have a HUGE collection or anything!)

So yeah... any thoughts? Is it worth doing?

Jon
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Jon

Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity

Jase · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:20 pm Post subject:

How many snakes are you catering for? Mice or Rats?
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Scott W · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:46 pm Post subject:

A basic rule of thumb for rodent breeding is that for every breeding female you will produce on average ONE baby per week.

So if you had 1 cage with 1.5 mice in, you would have an average of 5 mice produced EVERY week. Obviously in real terms you would have 2 or 3 litters in one week (say 8 per litter, 24 total) and then nothing for 2 weeks then 2 litters, then you would have nothing again for another 3 weeks min.

Obviously it all depends on quality of breeder mouse and quality of foods given plus what actual breeding system you use. Leaving the pregnant females with the males will increase the number/frequency of births but may reduce the number per litter.

For a small collection of snakes (less than 20) I would set up 5 cages of 1.5 mice with two cages spare for growing on the sexes seperate. I would also make sure you replaced your breeders every 6-9 months min. I would also leave the males permantly in the breeding groups.

As for "is it worth doing?" personally for me YES, I have always produced my own foods for my reptiles and notice a big difference in growth etc by using fresh rodents rather than unknown frozen sources. I also enjoy the fast turn around of rodent breeding (I started my current mouse colony with just 9 females and it now stands at over 700 breeding females and with thousands fed off to the snakes over that time period).
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Jase · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:53 pm Post subject:

....Saves me saying anything! Laughing

One question for you Scott, how do you pre kill your rodents?!
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Jon · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:56 pm Post subject:

Hi Scott,

Thanks very much for the information!

I currently only have 2 snakes, but we're looking at getting a pair of hoggies sometime soon, and with 4 snakes, I'd quite like to have that option...

Will have to assess space requirements and time requirements and do some maths I think!

Q: How do you kill your mice in preparation for feeding etc?

Thanks very much

Jon
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Jon

Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity

SteveL · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject:

cheers Scott im just about to embark on breeding a few myself ile see if its worth while Very Happy

Scott W · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject:

When I used to have less snakes to feed I would use the 'conker' technique and feed each snake with a freshly killed mouse.

Now I use Co2.
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

Jase · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:04 pm Post subject:

Adolf would be proud of you. Shocked

(no offence meant to anyone) Rolling Eyes

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A lil bit of Madagascar

Jase · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:06 pm Post subject:

Do you inbreed or do you buy-in new blood? I currently haven't had to replace any breeders so far so haven't made the decision.
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A lil bit of Madagascar

Jon · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:07 pm Post subject:

I've not discussed this with my other half... I don't think she'd take kindly to me breeding rats or mice and then killing them to feed to our snakes... Bless her...

A definate to think about for the future though. Makes me realise it's not worth it for such small numbers but will be in the future Wink

Cheers guys!

Jon
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Jon

Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity