Breeding mice?

Howdy all,
I am considering (Due to high individual price) breeding my own feeder mice. Does anyone have any tips regarding this subject or does any one else breed their own mice? Thanks all, just looking for some good info.

Mice stink!
Go for rats instead

LOL. I don't have anything big enough to tackle a rat yet.

When small, they're not that much bigger really. At 2 week old, they're about the size of an adult mouse.

You gonna feed to your bullsnake only?

Bullsnake, Ball Python, Red Tail Boa. But the boa and the python are babies and the bullsnake isn't big enough to feed on a rat. Although it sounds doable if the rat was young. I'm just not a big fan of rats personally. They're just odd to me. Something that constantly pees raises red flags for me.

Mice don't pee? lol

Not constantly like a rat does.

When you say so..

Only the male rats pee like that and it isnt exactly a constant stream, it's a drop or 2 every now and again.
FAR better than mouses and less chance of getting bitten by a rat.
If you dont want to do many mice then the smell shouldnt be too bad, just remember to spot clean them out every day.

Quote :

Only the male rats pee like that and it isnt exactly a constant stream, it's a drop or 2 every now and again.
FAR better than mouses and less chance of getting bitten by a rat.
If you dont want to do many mice then the smell shouldnt be too bad, just remember to spot clean them out every day.

Thanks Peloquin. IDK I might end up doing a bit of each to see which one I like better. Mice really that ferocious? I've been mauled by Egyptian Spiny mice before but never by a feeder mouse. What do you think about it though? Rats or mice?

Mice are bitey little bastard [hopscotch] heads. Rat only bit me once.

So I am guessing by your colorful input Street, you go more for rats?

I've kept both as pets and bred both as feeders.
For handling, DEF rats.
If your animals are small then really it'd have to be mice but if they can manage a rat pup the balls to nasty bitey mousey gits, go for rats.

So basically rats are the better of the two due to a better temperment? Is this a correct interpretation?

Amongst other things.
Better temperament, dont smell, hardly any more pee than from a mouse, trainable,... just better.
ONLY downside is rat pups are big.

Pelo, how big are the newborn mice actually?

Couple of cm.

So Peloquin, would rat pups be too big for a baby red tail or Ball Python?

Rat pups are about as big as a 3/4 growm mouse.
Not really done much with snakes so wouldnt know what size to feed your snakes. If they could take a 3/4 mouse then they should be fine.
Another option is to breed rats then cut the pups in half.


Mmmmmmm, messy.

Sounds doable. And I have played a part in a much messier game than that sir. Much bloodier and messier indeed.

Hmmm, tell me more. Sounds fun.

LOL I'm a trapper for starters, so I've been elbows deep inside of raccoons, possums, coyotes, and the odd cat a time or two. Blood, guts, and even little "pinkie possums" from the one. Heck, one possum I cut open was still alive. Sat there and watched it's heart beating. On top of that, I butcher deer for friends when they get hit on the road or whatever. There's a lot of blood inside of a deer. Once you open one up and start pulling stuff out, you turn red very quickly. There was one deer in particular, I got it all hollowed out with a big 'ol puddle of blood in the bottom and my idiot friend shoves me in, head first. So I was literally covered in blood. So I promptly severed the deer's neck to the bone, twisted the spine apart and ripped it's head off, throwing it at the fiendish friend (Who though it was the funniest thing in the world until he got a face full of flying Bambi) So I have had my fair share of bloody encounters. Living in the woods will do that from time to time. All of that isn't even including injuries I have sustained and human blood I have come in contact with. So good 'ol Wyatt here has tales to tell sir.