Food Sizing

[MasonC2K]

Now that I've gotten a first feed from Chloe, I want to buy frozen in bulk somewhere. However, are all sizes the same? I want to make sure I get the right size. She took a medium rat for Petco Saturday just fine. Will a medium rat from any online place be the same size?

Thanks.

[fishmommy]

the most accurate way to order is by weight. the online places will give a weight range for the sizes.

I would suggest getting another Petco prey item that is the size you want, and stick it on a food scale before feeding it to your snake.
Then purchase online with confidence

[xdeus]

Most of the descriptions from the various suppliers are about the same, although some will run a little larger or smaller. Your best bet would be to find a scale and measure the rats you're currently giving your snake, then compare it to the descriptions from the various companies. Rodent Pro has an excellent size reference page that gives you detailed pictures and gram weights: http://www.rodentpro.com/catalog.asp...el=frozen_rats

I just wanted to mention that a medium rat according to the Rodent Pro site is probably too much food for your Ball. They will have a much more consistent appetite if you keep the size to a weaned or small rat in the 40 gram range even for the largest Ball.

[MasonC2K]

I just wanted to mention that a medium rat according to the Rodent Pro site is probably too much food for your Ball. They will have a much more consistent appetite if you keep the size to a weaned or small rat in the 40 gram range even for the largest Ball.

I'll try a small next. I just went by the "prey no bigger than widest point" rule. The rat was long but no wider than Chloe.

[xdeus]

I'll try a small next. I just went by the "prey no bigger than widest point" rule. The rat was long but no wider than Chloe.

That rule only applies to Balls until they're about a year old (or about the width of a weaned/small rat). Balls get pretty girthy as do most ambush-type snakes, but they have a pretty slow metabolism and don't require a lot of food.

[Fuyu Hanabi]

you could try http://www.aikenfeederfood.com/ for frozen feeders....you can buy smaller amounts and its cheaper then most other frozen feeder sites.


regards,
Hanabi

[littleindiangirl]

I have been buying all my rats at a local rep show, and they were usually dirty, and not the best quality, really really big size down to hoppers. It sucked. but I guess I didnt know better.

Just recently I bought... about 90 rats from rodent pro, and they were excellent. Clean, dry, and all the same size! Almost looked like clones. Thats exactly the opposite of what I was getting before. I'm really happy with Rodent Pro. Totally recommend them. Oh, it came out to about $1.25 per rat after shipping for me. So Im still paying the same amount, and I dont have to drive, or deal with nasty rats.