Switching from Mice to Rats

[RobbinRN]

I know questions regarding the switch have been asked before, but seems most pertain to the actual prey item whereas I'm more concerned with size differences.

I have been feeding Alice the jumbo adult mice from Big Cheese, with an average size of 40 g. For about three months now, he's been eating two at a time with no problem. When I adopted Charger a few weeks ago, I fed him two as well. During a shed, he refused, so I gave Alice his two, which ended up totaling 160 g. He handled them fine, but looked like a huge sausage for a couple of days.

Well...the we finished the mice, so I decided to graduate to medium rats, ranging 90 to 150 g. When I picked them up (I live 20 min from Big Cheese..yah!) they seemed so large. Both Alice and Charger are big enough (850 and 750, respectively) to handle a 90 g rat based on their point of largest girth. But honestly, I absolutely cannot see them getting those big rats past their tiny heads and skinny necks. I know how a snake's jaws and throat work, but I need someone out there to tell me that it will be okay, they will get them down, and survive the experience

Feeding day is Monday....any words of wisdom?

Robbin

[Somed00d]

Both Alice and Charger are big enough (850 and 750, respectively) to handle a 90 g rat based on their point of largest girth.

if that is the case there will be no problem. the neck stretches like nylon and the jaw unhinges to make room..

[starmom]

I give my biggest snakes (1200g +) 80g rats and nothing larger...

I don't believe that a 90g rat will be a problem for your snakes given the weights that you listed. I just wonder if they will be getting too much food...?

[RobbinRN]

Gee, I never thought about it being too much. I keep reading on here how 15% of their weight was acceptable for a weekly feeding, which would be about 120 g for Alice. I was giving them two mice every 6 days, but plan on only feeding one of the rats per 7 days. I truly think that the majority of the rats in the package are more on the lesser end of the spectrum. If they can safely swallow the rat, I'll keep a close eye on them so as not to allow them to become too fat. If that appears to become the case, I'll back down a size range.

Robbin