Where to buy bulk feeder rats near Tucson
Need bulk feeder rats near Tucson? Mike's Rodents sells live feeder rats in bulk in the Tucson area. Prices drop 10% at 10 or more, 20% at 25, and 30% at 50 or more, plus Arizona sales tax. Text Mike the sizes and counts you need. Want the same order again later? Ask him about a standing order.
That's the whole system. No membership. No minimum to get a quote. The more you buy at once, the less each rat costs.
Bulk buying matters more than it used to. The American Pet Products Association says 27% of snake owners now keep three or more snakes. That's "a 108% increase since 2018" (APPA, 2024). If that's you, feeding costs add up fast.
Comparing every local option? Start with Where to Buy Feeder Rats in Tucson.
Bulk price breaks, size by size
Here's what each live rat costs at each break. Prices are per rat.
| Size | How big | 1 to 9 | 10 to 24 (10% off) | 25 to 49 (20% off) | 50 and up (30% off) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 45 to 85 g | $3.00 | $2.70 | $2.40 | $2.10 |
| Medium | 85 to 175 g | $4.35 | $3.90 | $3.50 | $3.05 |
| Large | 175 to 275 g | $5.65 | $5.10 | $4.50 | $3.95 |
| Extra Large | 275 to 375 g | $6.95 | $6.25 | $5.55 | $4.85 |
| Jumbo (retired breeders) | 375 g and up | $8.20 | $7.40 | $6.55 | $5.75 |
Prices are per animal, plus Arizona sales tax (6.1% today). Sold as feeders, not pets.
Feeder mice in bulk
Looking for feeder mice in bulk, or where to buy live mice in bulk? The same breaks apply to Mike's live mice.
| Size | How big | 1 to 9 | 10 to 24 | 25 to 49 | 50 and up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hopper | 7 to 12 g | $1.35 | $1.20 | $1.10 | $0.95 |
| Semi-Adult | 13 to 17 g | $1.55 | $1.40 | $1.25 | $1.10 |
| Adult | 18 to 30 g | $1.80 | $1.60 | $1.45 | $1.25 |
Prices are per animal, plus Arizona sales tax. Sold as feeders, not pets. More on sizes: live feeder mice.
How many rats does a 10-snake collection need?
Here's a worked example. It's an estimate, not a rule. Your snakes and your schedule will differ.
Say you keep 10 ball pythons:
- 4 juveniles (450 to 850 g) on Small rats, fed about every 10 days
- 4 sub-adults (850 g to 1.75 kg) on Medium rats, fed about every 14 days
- 2 adults (over 1.75 kg) on Large rats, fed about every 21 days
The gaps come from care guides. Wilbanks Reptiles puts adults at every 10 to 21 days. The vet-reviewed chart at More Reptiles puts juveniles at about 10 days and sub-adults at 10 to 14 days. Rat sizes follow the 10% rule from the feeder size guide.
Over 4 weeks (28 days), that collection eats about:
| Group | Meals per snake in 28 days | Rats needed | Price each | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 juveniles, Small | About 3 | 11 | $2.70 (10 or more) | $29.70 |
| 4 sub-adults, Medium | 2 | 8 | $4.35 | $34.80 |
| 2 adults, Large | About 1.3 | 3 | $5.65 | $16.95 |
| Total | 22 rats | $81.45 |
Here's the same collection buying 8 weeks at once:
| Group | Rats needed | Price each | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 22 | $2.70 | $59.40 |
| Medium | 16 | $3.90 (10 or more) | $62.40 |
| Large | 6 | $5.65 | $33.90 |
| Total | 44 rats | $155.70 |
That's $7.20 less than two 4-week orders ($162.90). All prices are plus Arizona sales tax. Sold as feeders, not pets.
We priced each size on its own here. Does a mixed order count as one total toward the breaks? Ask Mike when you text. It can change your math.
One more thing. Only buy what you can feed or keep. Live rats held for a few days need a bin, food, water and a cool spot. Our guide on how long feeder rats live covers the setup.
Mixing sizes and repeat orders
Mixing sizes. Yes, you can order several sizes at once. Tell Mike how many of each size you need. Every size lists its weight in grams, so you know what you're getting.
Repeat orders. Ordering the same thing again and again? Ask Mike about a standing order. You set your sizes and counts once. Then text him when you're ready for the next one.
What's ready. Rats grow at their own pace, so what's ready changes from batch to batch. Text Mike to ask what's ready now. For big orders, text a little ahead. Nothing ready in your size? Get batch alerts and Mike will email you when a new batch is ready.
How ordering works
Want to buy feeder rats in bulk from Mike? It takes three steps:
- Call or text Mike at (520) 451-4380. Tell him the sizes and how many of each.
- Mike replies the same day. He'll tell you what's ready and set a time and place that works for you.
- Pay by Venmo or Zelle. On Venmo, use goods and services.
That's it. There's no cart and no account to set up.
When feeding day comes, feed one snake at a time if you feed live. Stay and watch. Take out any rat that isn't eaten. VCA Animal Hospitals says never leave prey in with a snake for more than two hours. A live rat can bite.
Feeder rats for breeders and shops
Small breeders. Feeder rats for breeders work the same way as any bulk order. The 25 and 50 breaks are where the savings grow. Thinking about raising your own instead? Read Breeding Your Own Feeder Rats vs Buying first. It runs the honest math.
Pet shops. Own a reptile shop? Shop orders work a little differently. Shops buying to resell sign Arizona Form 5000A, so their orders don't carry sales tax. Mike sends the shop price list on request. Two Tucson-area reptile shops already buy from Mike. See the For Pet Stores page.
Is buying in bulk worth it?
Here's a quick checklist. Bulk usually makes sense if:
- [ ] You keep 3 or more snakes, or feed a lot of one size
- [ ] You can keep live rats a few days in a cool, safe spot
- [ ] Your order reaches 10, 25 or 50 of a size
- [ ] You'd rather skip shipping, dry ice and a full freezer
Bulk may not make sense if you keep one snake and feed every 2 to 3 weeks. In that case, a single rat at feeding time is often simpler.
Want to compare live and frozen costs? See How Much Do Feeder Rats Cost? For a one-snake budget, see How Much Does It Cost to Feed a Ball Python for a Year? For gaps by snake size, see the ball python feeding schedule.
Ready to price your order? Call or text Mike at (520) 451-4380 with your sizes and counts. Mike sells in Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Northwest Tucson, Sahuarita, Vail and South Tucson. See every size on the live feeder rats page. Sold as feeders, not pets.
FAQ
How many rats does a 10-snake collection need a month?
It depends on sizes and gaps. In our example, 10 ball pythons (4 juveniles, 4 sub-adults, 2 adults) eat about 22 rats every 4 weeks. Adults on longer gaps need fewer. Fast-growing juveniles need more. Log every meal to find your real number.
Can I mix sizes in a bulk order?
Yes. Tell Mike how many of each size you need, and he'll let you know what's ready. Ask him how a mixed order counts toward the 10, 25 and 50 price breaks.
Do bulk prices apply to mice?
Yes. Mike's live mice get the same breaks. That's 10% off at 10 or more, 20% at 25 or more, and 30% at 50 or more. An Adult mouse is $1.80 alone and $1.25 each at 50 or more, plus Arizona sales tax. Sold as feeders, not pets.
Can I set up a repeat order?
Yes. Ask Mike about a standing order. You set your sizes and counts once, then text him when you're ready for the next one.
How do I pay?
Pay by Venmo or Zelle once Mike confirms your order. On Venmo, choose goods and services.
Do you sell to pet stores?
Yes. Mike sells to Tucson-area reptile shops. Shops buying to resell sign Arizona Form 5000A. Call or text Mike at (520) 451-4380 for the shop price list.
Sources
Every outside fact above links to its source. All were checked on October 16, 2026.
