Rats and Mice...

ithica · #1 (**permalink**) 01-04-08, 10:46 AM

I found this on a website selling rats and mice. I heard this before and I am sure it has been shared but if not then here you go. I am not advertising for anyone so I took out all the stuff referring to their business. I am just trying to share the knowledge. If you know something different then please go ahead and share.

Toxic Mice - Where did all the red dye go?
"Dog Food Feed is Killing our Snakes" says Jim Jackson of Snake Asylum, Cicero, Il.
90-95% of the mice and rats breeders feed dog food only, and the cheapest brand available. The mice are absorbing the large quantities of red dye into their organs. Their metabolism is twice as fast as ours. They can't eliminate it, and must store it in their organs. This red dye, put into the dog food to enhance it's meaty appearance, of course is passed on to the snakes. What happens is that the red dye kills off the snakes kidneys and gaul bladder, and can cause tumors. Jim and his friends are doing extensive research on this , and if they are right, this will explain the mysterious deaths of otherwise healthy reptiles.

Parts is Parts
Bargain mice are out there, you just have to make sure that they have all of their organs. Some lab rats have had their reproductive parts, brains and other major organs removed. Some have been bleed for blood serum. Some have been put on special diets to deprive them of certain nutrients. Some have had cancer tumors kidney failure and arterial sclorosis induced, other have been injected with some pretty serious drugs.

My Snake Won't Eat Frozen Mice or Rats
People who tell me that are buying frozen mice trays in zipper lock bags. Sure their snakes won't eat them, because often they have been sitting in the breeders freezer for 4 to 6 months and are freezer burned before you get them. Be sure you seller has a stock of fresh food. If you heat up he rat and it falls apart then you might want to start asking questions.

Blood Sucking Parasites
A mouse breeder in N.E. Florida boasts that he doesn't have any trouble with mites, because he dusts the cage wood shavings with this powder that kills them. Obviously, he doesn't have a clue that the mice will either eat it, or get it in their system, through their skin.
A clean sanitary enviroment is necessary, but I don't care how careful you are, parasites happen. That is why I preach, freezing kills all blood sucking parasites dead, "deader is better,". That is why I freeze parasites, not poison them.

Beware of Amateurs
A veternarian told me he once ordered some bargain pinkies, 20 cents each. But it was CO shipping cost. When they arrived, he saw that they had put them in a styrafoam cooler and frozen them in a block of ice. The shipping cost was $65.00 COD.

treeboa34 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-04-08, 04:20 PM

yep you have to watch for bad food i breed my own and eat better than i do no additives in their food they all have exercise wheels and fresh water every day i love em the same as the reptiles infact get too attached to them if im honest! Thanks for the info Dave its very eye opening

DarkDreamer · #3 (**permalink**) 01-04-08, 04:33 PM

Intresting reading!
thanks!

littleindiangirl · #4 (**permalink**) 01-04-08, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Toxic Mice - Where did all the red dye go?
"Dog Food Feed is Killing our Snakes" says Jim Jackson of Snake Asylum, Cicero, Il.
90-95% of the mice and rats breeders feed dog food only, and the cheapest brand available. The mice are absorbing the large quantities of red dye into their organs. Their metabolism is twice as fast as ours. They can't eliminate it, and must store it in their organs. This red dye, put into the dog food to enhance it's meaty appearance, of course is passed on to the snakes. What happens is that the red dye kills off the snakes kidneys and gaul bladder, and can cause tumors. Jim and his friends are doing extensive research on this , and if they are right, this will explain the mysterious deaths of otherwise healthy reptiles.

I would like to see him prove this, it is interesting, but I would like to see this "research" before I believe it. (I feed my rats high quality rat food, you are what you eat!!)

Quote:

Parts is Parts
Bargain mice are out there, you just have to make sure that they have all of their organs. Some lab rats have had their reproductive parts, brains and other major organs removed. Some have been bleed for blood serum. Some have been put on special diets to deprive them of certain nutrients. Some have had cancer tumors kidney failure and arterial sclorosis induced, other have been injected with some pretty serious drugs.

This is hardly even plausible. Labs do not sell these mice as feeders. Just doesn't happen.

Quote:

Beware of Amateurs
A veternarian told me he once ordered some bargain pinkies, 20 cents each. But it was CO shipping cost. When they arrived, he saw that they had put them in a styrafoam cooler and frozen them in a block of ice. The shipping cost was $65.00 COD.

Nothing wrong with amateurs! I got some good deals from amateurs just starting out! As always, research who your buying from

ithica · #5 (**permalink**) 01-04-08, 07:49 PM

I respect your opinion. All I ask is if you do not believe the information please research it further. Don't take my word for it. Knowledge is best discovered on your own. Thank you for your opinion.

Redeemer02 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-04-08, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ithica

Parts is Parts

Bargain mice are out there, you just have to make sure that they have all of their organs. Some lab rats have had their reproductive parts, brains and other major organs removed. Some have been bleed for blood serum. Some have been put on special diets to deprive them of certain nutrients. Some have had cancer tumors kidney failure and arterial sclorosis induced, other have been injected with some pretty serious drugs.

I know of at least one company that is no longer in business that dealt with a large testing facility. They bought all the "used" mice and sold them as frozen feeders. It's actually a decent money making scheme, the lab benefits and the guy selling he mice gets to sell a product without ever having to raise a mouse.

I also know of one mouse supplier who doesn't feed his mice dog food, but a pig & swine feed. The reason: It's $5 USD for a 50 pound bag. Believe what you want, I know the facts Dave presentd are genuine.

tonyh1981 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-04-08, 05:46 PM

great info but people are right there are exceptions to all this. Do your research

ithica · #8 (**permalink**) 02-04-08, 06:04 PM

Um I think this is getting taken out of context. I am not saying "THIS WILL HAPPEN"....I am just putting things out there to be careful of. On the other hand RED DYE is stored in the rats and is fatal to snakes. Everyone does have the right and more so the responcibilty to research.

treeboa34 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-04-08, 11:21 PM

there was a place in manchester that used to sell it lab mice Connie im sorry to say it certainly does happen!

emerald · #10 (**permalink**) 04-04-08, 08:57 PM

I thought that in the UK rats and mice sold as feeder animals had to achieve a code of practice apprived by defra - when i buy my frozen food in bulk it comes in bages with a defra stamp to confirm iths history and background. Dont know about all the other stuff in the thread - I have bever come acfross anyone whose rep has been poisened by frozen rodents. Has anyone else?

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