Best Place to Buy Feeder Rats in Tucson? Your 4 Options Compared

The short answer

The best place to buy feeder rats in Tucson depends on what you need. Tucson keepers have four options: local reptile shops, chain pet stores (frozen), online sellers that ship frozen, and local breeders. Mike's Rodents is a Tucson-area breeder. Mike sells live rats from Small to Jumbo, priced per rat, with no shipping. Call or text Mike at (520) 451-4380.

Want frozen? A chain store or an online seller may suit you. Want live, the right size, and no freezer to fill? A local breeder makes sense.

Not sure where to buy feeder rats in Tucson? Below, we compare all four on what matters: live or frozen, sizes, price, and shipping. Outside prices were checked on October 16, 2026.

Your four options in Tucson

1. Local reptile shops

Tucson has several reptile shops. Many carry feeders. What they stock changes, so call ahead and ask about sizes and whether they're live or frozen. We don't rank shops here. In fact, two Tucson-area reptile shops already buy their feeders from Mike.

Good for: buying in person today, and getting other supplies at the same stop.

2. Chain pet stores

Big chains sell frozen rats. On October 16, 2026, PetSmart's website listed one frozen Medium rat for $9.99. One frozen Small was $6.99 (PetSmart). Store prices can differ.

Chains are a different story for live rodents. Policies vary, so ask your store. We dig into that in Does Petco or PetSmart Sell Live Feeder Mice and Rats?

Good for: a frozen meal tonight, close to home.

3. Online frozen sellers

Big online sellers ship frozen rats in insulated boxes with dry ice. Per rat, they can cost less. One large seller listed 10 Medium rats for $39.90 on October 16, 2026. Frozen orders of $99 or more shipped free (product page). Below that, you pay shipping.

The catch is order size and storage. To get free shipping, you buy a lot at once and keep it in your freezer. On a smaller order, shipping is added on top.

Good for: keepers with freezer space who plan months ahead.

4. Local breeders

A local breeder sells rats raised in the Tucson area. No shipping. No dry ice. Mike's Rodents is one of these. Mike breeds live feeder rats and mice himself and sells them direct.

Good for: live feeders, the right size by weight, and repeat orders without a freezer full of rats.

Option table: live or frozen, sizes, price, shipping

Here's how the four options stack up. Prices outside Mike's were checked on October 16, 2026.

Mike's prices are per animal, plus Arizona sales tax. Sold as feeders, not pets.

For the full price breakdown, see How Much Do Feeder Rats Cost?

Buying live feeder rats in Tucson from a local breeder

Wondering where to buy live rats for snakes in Tucson, straight from the source? Here's how it works with Mike.

1. Call or text Mike at (520) 451-4380. Tell him which sizes you need and how many of each.
2. Mike replies the same day. He'll tell you what's ready now and set a time and place that works for you.
3. Pay by Venmo or Zelle. On Venmo, use goods and services.

Want the same order again later? Ask Mike about a standing order.

Here are Mike's rat sizes and single prices:

Prices drop 10% at 10 or more, 20% at 25 or more, and 30% at 50 or more. All prices are per animal, plus Arizona sales tax (6.1% today). Sold as feeders, not pets. The "good for" column uses the 10% rule many keepers follow.

Mike also sells live mice: Hopper, Semi-Adult and Adult. See live feeder mice. Keep a big collection? See bulk feeder rats.

Areas Mike sells in

Mike sells Tucson feeder rodents, live rats and mice, across the Tucson area, including:

• Tucson
• Marana
• Oro Valley
• Northwest Tucson
• Sahuarita
• Vail
• South Tucson

Call or text him, and he'll set a time and place with you.

A Tucson heat note. Tucson averages 68 days a year at 100°F or more. The first one usually comes around May 18 (National Weather Service Tucson). The NWS also saw a parked car hit 94.3°F in a little over 2 minutes (NWS). If you buy live in summer, go straight home with the AC on. Never leave animals in a parked car. More tips: Feeding Snakes in Tucson's Summer Heat.

What to ask any seller

Whoever you buy from, these questions help. Use this checklist:

• [ ] How much do the ones I'm getting weigh? Size names vary between sellers. Grams don't.
• [ ] Live or frozen? Make sure it matches what your snake eats.
• [ ] What's the price per animal, and is tax extra?
• [ ] Is there a price break for bigger orders?
• [ ] How are the animals kept? A good seller will tell you straight. Mike will.
• [ ] How fast do you reply? You'll want a seller who answers.
• [ ] Can I set up a repeat order?
• [ ] How do I pay?

Mike lists grams next to every size on the feeder size guide. That way you can compare sellers by weight, not by name.

Other ways Tucson keepers find feeders

• Reptile shows. Local shows are a good place to meet keepers and sellers. See Tucson Reptile Shows and Expos.
• Breeding your own. Some keepers raise their own rats. It takes space, time and money. Read Breeding Your Own Feeder Rats vs Buying for the honest math.
• Wild rodents. Thinking about catching a wild mouse or rat? Read Can You Feed Your Snake a Wild Mouse or Rat? first.

Still deciding between live and frozen? Both are fine choices. Lots of snakes do great on frozen. If yours does, keep at it. Our honest live vs frozen comparison lays out both sides. Buying live and holding them a few days? See How Long Do Feeder Rats Live?

Shops: buying feeders for resale

Own a reptile shop in the Tucson area? Mike sells to shops too. Shops buying to resell sign Arizona Form 5000A, so their orders don't carry sales tax. Mike sends the shop price list on request. Details are on the For Pet Stores page.

Looking for feeder rats in Arizona's Tucson area? Mike sums up his business in three short lines: "Buy direct. Not frozen, we have live fresh food. Reasonable pricing." Call or text Mike at (520) 451-4380. See every size on the live feeder rats page, or start at the home page. Nothing ready in your size? Get batch alerts.