Mice size?

[shawnster]

I've been feeding Junior live fuzzies for the 3 weeks I've had him. I really want/need to get on frozen. I'm thinking about ordering some from Rodentpro.com so my question is....What size should I get?? He's about 18-20 inches. I know I should feed him the same size or a little larger than the largest part of his body. But the problem is that I haven't seen any of these sizes in person to compare sizes. If I'm gonna order 50-100 mice then I need a good size for him. I've been going a pet store and getting them and they all have the same size mice. They either have mice or rats. Should I get hoppers, weanlings, or what?? Thanks for everyone's help!!

Shawn

Oh, I forgot...also, how do they ship the mice without spoiling them. I live in Florida and it's been in the mid to upper 90's.

[Marla]

Go with adults. Large adults are a little much for him just yet and weanlings will be too small a meal in another month or so.

[Anonymous]

It all depends on your snakes grith.
I'd personally wouldn't order that many mice.
I'd switch to a bit large prey (Rats)

The ship the mice/rats with dry ice.
I'm pretty sure its next day delivery.

My snake is about the same length as yours.
He'll be eating rat pups starting this wednesday.

[sophie42204]

I got Sophie when she was about 8 weeks old and about 18 inches and fed her adult mice from day one (well from the first feeding after we brought her home). So, I would suggest adult mice as well.

[mlededee]

yup. nellie is about 7 weeks old and i just switched her to adult mice. they seem to be just the right size.

[vinnimac]

I have a 30 female BP and am still giving her live mice! Three a week now. The store I got her from starts them on live 'cause they grow them there too. Is there any real nutritional reason to switch to rats, or is it just a size of meal issue?

[vinnimac]

That should read '30 inch long' sorry

[EyeLashViper]

Well, I have heard that rats are supposedly more nutricious than mice - more meat and fatty tissue I think. Of my four Ball Pythons I have Apok and Oracle both on juvenile rats and Cypher and Trinity are still taking large mice. Trinity does not seem to realize that rats are legitimate prey yet. Smell is an important issue I think when you are a Ball Python - they imprint on certain prey items and can be a bear to get the to switch. My main deal is to get my snakes on pre-killed before everyone on this board reams me a new one...heh heh heh....

EyeLashViper

[led4urhead]

100 mice, in theory, would last you two years ( going off the assumption that the bp eats 1 mouse a week everyweek without missing a week/52 weeks in a year ). I dont know of any prey that would be the correct size now and still the correct size in two years. I would get a couple of adult mice and then approximately the next size up only in rats. That way you already have the rats when it comes time to make the switch. Good luck

My main deal is to get my snakes on pre-killed before everyone on this board reams me a new one...heh heh heh....

Just suggestions man. I dont think anyone is trying to impose their keeping styles on anyone else. Hows it going btw?

[vinnimac]

There is just the stereotype (I guess) I have against rats. I like the idea of my snake eating live prey, as nature intended, but I know that presents a much greater hazard to the health and well being of my snake, especially if I start with rats and she doesn't see them as prey. Gerbils would be an option, exceot they are pretty expensive meal at the places I have been looking. Anyone have any ideas where to look as to nutritional comparisons?