Post by fuzzymom on Dec 25, 2008 11:14:03 GMT -5
We've had some issues with the rodent breeding lately. Mainly with the rats. We lost two of our males recently and are down to two and we have only 4 breedable females, two of which aborted their most recent pregnancies. So I was thinking of taking the mice up to the pet store and selling them to the store, get all the cages together, clean and sanitize them and start over from scratch. At least with the rats. Maybe the mice too. I think the only thing I'm keeping are the gerbils, and 5 of them are getting sold, leaving me with 3.
I just feel a fresh start would be best. I can get some younger females (just weaned) and raise them up with a lot of handling (so they are tame) and I can make sure they grow up right and in the right conditions.
So I'm trying to think how many I should start out with. I'm going to be upgrading to actual pet quality cages instead of using glass tanks or rack systems. They just seem more humane and allow better ventilation and I can add running wheels and toys and such.
I feed 12 snakes every week. That is 12 rat weanlings per week that I need. Not to mention I want to get the ferrets eating whole prey on a regular basis. Maybe start with 1 mouse per week per ferret, for a bit, then work my way up to 2 mice a day.
So how many do you think I need to start out with? I got some money for Christmas. Not a lot, but enough to maybe get a new cage. I might use the glass tanks until I can get enough cages for a whole colony.
I just feel a fresh start would be best. I can get some younger females (just weaned) and raise them up with a lot of handling (so they are tame) and I can make sure they grow up right and in the right conditions.
So I'm trying to think how many I should start out with. I'm going to be upgrading to actual pet quality cages instead of using glass tanks or rack systems. They just seem more humane and allow better ventilation and I can add running wheels and toys and such.
I feed 12 snakes every week. That is 12 rat weanlings per week that I need. Not to mention I want to get the ferrets eating whole prey on a regular basis. Maybe start with 1 mouse per week per ferret, for a bit, then work my way up to 2 mice a day.
So how many do you think I need to start out with? I got some money for Christmas. Not a lot, but enough to maybe get a new cage. I might use the glass tanks until I can get enough cages for a whole colony.