How many breeder rats for 12 BP's?

[05yellowGSXR]

How many breeder females would I need to supply feeders for 12 ball pythons? Currently all the balls are feeding on F/T weanlings except one that prefers live. Even if I decided to breed my own rats I would still pre-kill them to prevent any chance of them causing harm to my snakes. I'd like the idea of saving some money, but I need an idea of just how many rats and how much work it would be to supply my modest collection with food every week? How would you make sure that I'm not getting multiple litters on the same day and then going weeks without any other litters? I'm thinking I'd keep the females in individual cages and rotate the male into their cages every week or every other week to make sure that the litters are staggered. Does that sound about right?

[05yellowGSXR]

Also, for prekilling the feeders I was planning on taking the 12 I need and putting them in an airtight container like a small cooler along with a jar with baking soda and vineger. How long would it take for them to die from the carbon dioxide.

[boidubrid]

Buy 3 females and 1 male and your set.

[05yellowGSXR]

Sounds good. If I decide to do this I will purchase 6 cages. One for each female, 1 for the male, 1 for the female feeders, and 1 for the male feeders in order to keep from unintentional pregnancies. Does this sound about right?

[BolderBalls]

Stagger when you feed the 12. That way you don't waste any rats if someone decides they're not hungry.

[glima]

u sure 3 fems will be ok?
curiosity...

[Malekhant]

Care to elaborate