Switching to rats

Making the switch tonight to small rats for my BP. I was a little concerned after reading the BP feeding guidelines and it recommended a smaller rat then what I could get from the shop. They only had small rats f/t. After looking at the rat and the size of the bp I think it should be fine though. It's definitely a jump in size from a small mouse to a small rat but the small mice just seem way to small.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...psldlzwcar.jpg

How much does your snake weigh? What is the feeder weight?

I have not gotten a scale yet to weigh him. That's on the list of needed equipment but going off of the rule they can eat something the size of the largest part of his body he should be able to take the rat no problem.

If you have been feeding him the bottom mouse and then jump to the upper rat, that is a drastic jump. Also that would also mean he is underfed with the bottom mouse if he is the girth of the upper rat.

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Originally Posted by ElliotNess

If you have been feeding him the bottom mouse and then jump to the upper rat, that is a drastic jump. Also that would also mean he is underfed with the bottom mouse if he is the girth of the upper rat.

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I measured him since I don't have a scale and he measures 3 and 5/8" diameter. The rat frozen diameter is 4 and 1/4" so not to much bigger. I've had him for four weeks and fed him what the breeder initially said but I also started to think he needed something larger then the mouse. After reading to switch him to rats I went and got the smallest thing they had.

Small adult mouse to a small adult rat is a BIG jump. I'm in the process of switching my mouser and she's still taking rat pups, not quite ready for weans yet.

I'm going to swap them for a bigger mouse instead of the small rat. To many questions and I'd rather play it safe.