Australia's Science Forum

Does anyone know from where we can source rats for dissection for yr 9. Southern Biological seems very expensive.$17.50 for rat and we are looking at buying around 36 rats in total for 6 classes.Being a brand new public school our school cannot afford such a expense, but according to new curriculum introduced in QlD Schools we are required to do it.
Or is there someone/somewhere who can source toads.

Thanx everyone.

i was told westmead hospital at westmead NSW.
Apparently that have to be medical grade, not pet shop grade.
BUT my take is..sorry no rat dissections - too much paper work...

In QLD there is Pisces pet supplies. Don't have the details to hand but I will try and find them. We used them a couple of years ago when the whole of our 8/9 cohort did dissections. Not fun! I'll look for them and repost.

Aren't you running the national curriculum in QLD.
Does that mean it will be required by all of us to do it once the national curriculum is introduced.
I'll have to quit before then. I can coope with eyes and hearts and kidneys etc but rats!! Don't think I could deal with that!!

We use rat dissection to show digestive system, and in Bio11 reproduction.
We get them from Southern Biological in Victoria and they deliver frozen. It may not be mandatory practical.
Lada

We use toads as well, again frozen from S. Biological, but they are still around $10. A little cheaper then rats. I would have though toads will be much cheaper.
Lada

Google dissection connection. They have piglets instead of rats and are $9.90ea. I believe they come frozen.

one of our teachers sourced all the different items for the digestive system from different butchers around the area, we had a pluck, the small intestine, large intestine and had it laid out on the table in place...no need for rats!

i have the photos of the piglet, i can email them if you like..just PM me your email address

Give me a rat or toad anyday, but a cute piglet, NO!!!!!

You can try googling Pisces Enterprises and Personal Pet Services. Pisces are approx $10 I think for a decent sized rat but you need to set up an account with them and pre-pay orders (depending on size of order). We only used Pisces the once and was a couple of years ago so wouldn't like to comment on their service. Haven't used Personal pet services but they were recommended. The other idea was going direct to the pet shops for example Pet Barn, however if you need large numbers you may struggle.
Did hear the piglets were great though. I'd do that if you can!!

Those piglets are THE way to go...way better than rats or toads.

Some pet shops - the big ones - have frozen ones for snake food..

If you have a smart board you can do virtual dissections (we haven't done it yet, but I have seen it done). Otherwise, we once used rats from a pet shop here for abou $6each I think. They were fresh, and if you give them a couple of weeks notice that you want them they will let some grow to a good size (otherwise they are sold for snake food). After reading the animals in schools document we concluded it was ok. Also, down here (NSW) we aren't allowed to make anyone do dissections. If they don't want to do it, they must be given alternative work. I personally find dissections fascinating!

I believe toads are a little hard to get at the moment because they are hibernating.

We have used the piglets from Dissection Connection and they are great. The main good thing is they are piggies which have died naturally - stillborn etc; rather than poor rats which are bred purely to be used for school dissections.
Kathryn

Thank you so much each one you for your the useful information you provided. I will let my HOD know about it and will let you guys know how we went about it...

hi,

have you tried the animal resource centre in perth, i know that they send there rats everywhere.

Animal Resources Centre
PO Box 1180
Canning Vale WA 6970
Australia
Telephone (+ 61 9332 5033
Fax(+ 61 9310 2839

E-mail
info@arc.wa.gov.au (for general correspondence)
orders@arc.wa.gov.au (for new orders and order enquiries)

www.arc.wa.gov.au

hope it helps
vic

Thank you for information everyone. Just letting you know that we ended up ordering 34 frozen rats from southern biological. The prac's are booked for tomorrow. I will put the rats from the freezer to fridge today before going home. Do you think they will defrost by tomorrow morning.Help!
Also for those who are wondering... This prac is for Yr 9 doing energy unit.They will be just checking out the digestive system and organs. Hummm..Good luck for me as all 6 classes of yr 9 are doing this prac tomorrow.I will have rats smell everywhere. ohh. At least we have weekend ahead.

I don't think they will defrost in the fridge overnight. I would be getting them out now (at room temp) for a quite few hours and putting them back in the fridge overnight.