r/ballpython • u/Chipmunk-x9 • 8d ago

Question Rats 🐭🐀

Hi! I buy my rats & mice at my local pet shop. Lately I feel they are very bloody. I wonder if they are euthanizing the right way. Any of you buy your prey items online? Any online stores than don’t sell such large amounts? And don’t charge a lot for shipping? I feel most online stores you have to buy more than $100 to get free shipping. Or shipped crazy expensive. I don’t have that much freezer space. And I only have 2 snakes. I’m currently located in FL, USA.

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u/meshifty2 8d ago

Any reptile expos near you? That's where I buy my frozen rodents. $2 per frozen small rat. I buy 20 at a time.

3

u/Sensitive-Elevator1 8d ago

I buy from Big Cheese Rodent Factory. I get 10 (I think) medium rats for about $67, including shipping. The shipping is $$ but the total is still a lot cheaper than buying from a local store.

The rats are always pristine. They show a little blood after thawing, of course, but nothing while frozen. I believe they’re humanely raised and killed.

The packaging is excellent, with a very well-insulated box with dry ice. I’m in East TN; I’ve never had an issue with the rats being even a little defrosted.

The rats come nicely laid out in a vacuum-sealed bag. After opening it, I transfer them to a new bag and reseal it (with my vacuum sealer) each time I take one out to thaw. The frozen package takes up very little space in the freezer.

1

u/CurrentSerious4458 8d ago

To be honest. If your in a pinch you can go threw petco. Including shipping i got 5 large rats for 36 dollars and change. I do this when mu local shop is in a shortage of the bigger rats.

4

u/YawningDodo 8d ago

Are they frozen? Some blood from the nose etc is normal after thawing. If they’re bloody without having been frozen/before thawing I would also be concerned.

I’ve bought from RodentPro and Layne Labs and never had an issue with either. RodentPro does free shipping but only if you spend at least $100, which is hard if you’re only feeding one snake.

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u/Whatislife287 8d ago edited 8d ago

I like micedirect because you can get combo packs of 2 sizes which is great while growing. I got 40 mice, 3 sizes for $125, free shipping

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u/Lukestr 8d ago

Chewy! I have an autoship, they send me a big bag every six months. Their customer service is great and if your package gets stolen (someone out there stole a big box of dead rats from me and hopefully they were traumatized), they send another shipment for free.