Spiny mouse

Does anyone have any experience or advice concerning spiny mice as a BP feeder? They're a widely-distributed African species, closely related to gerbils, though the "spine-like" hairs on their back might make them inappropriate as feeders, particularly for the poor snake that tries to swallow them backwards!

I've seen picky WC snakes take them with little hesitation, which means there must be some pre-captivity imprinting on them as prey species.

Look forward to hear your thoughts.

I've never heard of such a mouse. I guess I'll be making a trip to google soon...

hmm. they seem pretty cool. Google says that their tails can fall of somewhat easily but will not grow back. It says the hairs are an adaptation of theirs that resembles that of a hedgehog. Another interesting thing it said was that most babies are born between 4:00 and 8:00 A.M.

Domestic mice and rats always work for me. ;) :sweeet:

-adam

I have wondered about the spiney mice as well, and was considering trying them on my WC female, but at $20 a pop that's an expensive meal... I may see what I can do about getting a trio.

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Originally Posted by Rapture

I have wondered about the spiney mice as well, and was considering trying them on my WC female, but at $20 a pop that's an expensive meal...

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they must be the lobster of the rodent world!!

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Domestic mice and rats always work for me. ;) :sweeet:

-adam

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Me too! :rolleyes:

The local pet store has been told to sell of their spiny mice as feeders because they aren't selling as pets. I was given a free sample to see if anyone here would go for it, and from a snake that had a live rat (what she's used to) cornered in her enclosure, and licking its face for 25 minutes two weeks ago, I got a rapid feeding response with no hesitation.

I'm glad that no one has had anything negative to say about these guys, and I'm very happy for (and jealous of) those of you who have never had a hitch when feeding!

Update:

I bought out the local petstore of their spiny mice, intending to breed. They are 'cute' as far as rodents go... and they don't smell like mice at all, hardly any smell with 8 adults.

Unfortunately, litter size averages around 2, so they aren't very prolific. I'm going to feed off what I have here, everyone who has tried them have given them 2/3 coils ;)