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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2015 7:47:36 GMT -5
Msav: Is that an unusual number for a litter?
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Post by bitbyter on Apr 3, 2015 8:16:02 GMT -5
I think msav has over 300 currently. I have 3 colonies at the moment but only one producing babies (the others are still growing up). I have one grow out bin with 50 juveniles in it. Will be setting up two more grow out bins once the other two colonies start producing.
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Post by bitbyter on Apr 3, 2015 8:16:57 GMT -5
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Post by RedSky on Apr 3, 2015 9:18:41 GMT -5
Are they more like mice or rats? In terms of intelligence and behaviour? I don't like feeding rats as food as to me they seem bright social creatures, while I've had mice as pets they don't seem as intelligent or curious, and never really did much past eat, sleep and run around.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2015 9:32:29 GMT -5
Are there any female members raising rats here on forum?
Don't think I could handle the responsibility, though---- since I got a dog from H*ll(puppy 9 mos).
Just turned my quail out--- trying to make my life simpler.
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Post by msav on Apr 3, 2015 10:11:12 GMT -5
Are they more like mice or rats? In terms of intelligence and behaviour? I don't like feeding rats as food as to me they seem bright social creatures, while I've had mice as pets they don't seem as intelligent or curious, and never really did much past eat, sleep and run around. They are not very bright and more like mice than rats. They are kind of wild and not like the domestic rat. This makes them less attachable as pets. So they are easy to feed. At least for me. They don't bite much however I do get the occasional aggressive ones. I am only breeding the docile ones, and none of my current breeder females have bitten me or even nipped me even when I am handling their pinkies. The first breading I got nipped and bit me when I got close to them or there young or when they were pregnant. I have over 300 in the freezer not live. Right now I have about 80 or so growing to feeder size and about 35 or so ween-lings that were just recently separated. I have not counted all the pinkies yet, But I believe I have about 50 pinkies with 3 more mothers ready to pop. 1 of my 4 breeding groups is not producing their quota, so I may cull them and put together another group to replace them.
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Post by bitbyter on Apr 3, 2015 10:12:22 GMT -5
I find them even dumber than mice. They don't even scatter when you open the lid or run away when you try and pick them up. That's why I like them. Much easier to deal with when changing tubs. Reportedly they can be nippy but I've only been nipped once in months of dealing with them.
Their coats are also very uniform so it is hard to identify individuals and get attached.
They also are much cleaner than mice, they tend to use one spot in the cage as a latrine and they barely smell in comparison to mice (which reek, especially the males). Rats smell somewhere in between.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 3, 2015 10:55:43 GMT -5
Thanks, I wonder if there is anyone near me that I could get a supply from. My snake has grown quite a bit over the last 6 months, so could do with something bigger than a mouse and I'm sure my ferrets would appreciate another whole meal. I couldn't raise and kill them myself, no space or time and I couldn't bring myself to do the deed. But I'd also prefer not to feed actual rats, if I need to I will. I also have a bit of a block when it comes to feeding hamster, gerbils and guinea pigs. It's pets that I've had that have actually had a bond with me, and what I can see as a real personality. I will admit I haven't have a pet mouse for just less than 20 years, so maybe not being able to remember them so much helps.
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Post by msav on Apr 3, 2015 11:43:37 GMT -5
I would be careful feeding them to your snake, some snakes will get used to eating them and will not eat anything else. I know my ferrets don't love mice like they used to now that they have had ASF.
They will always fight over ASF rat. Not so much with the mice anymore.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 3, 2015 11:58:16 GMT -5
That is a good point. I'll make sure that I find a few sources if I do switch.
Are they the same thing as multimammate mice/rats or something different. Some sites say they are the same others list different scientific names... I've found multimammate sold on 2 sites, one states approx weight as 40g, the other is almost double.
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Post by bitbyter on Apr 3, 2015 14:43:05 GMT -5
as far as I know they are the same thing.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 3, 2015 15:59:06 GMT -5
Thanks, has she given birth yet? I wonder if she will have big babies or just lots of them...
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Post by msav on Apr 3, 2015 17:17:02 GMT -5
Thanks, has she given birth yet? I wonder if she will have big babies or just lots of them... as of last night. Not yet. I will check when I get home tonight
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Post by msav on Apr 10, 2015 9:32:05 GMT -5
she still has not popped.
I am beginning to wonder if she is just plain fat.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2015 20:24:05 GMT -5
hahahaha
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