Mice vs. rats ?

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Originally Posted by JibbaJabba

Do you let the rat walk freely in the cage or do you hold it until the snake grabs it ?



Aesthetic reasons ?

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I let the rat walk freely.

Aesthetic, because minor scratches show up on albinos that don't show up on snakes with melanin. Because I don't want to see scratches on my albino - he gets fed f/t.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I let the rat walk freely.

Aesthetic, because minor scratches show up on albinos that don't show up on snakes with melanin. Because I don't want to see scratches on my albino - he gets fed f/t.

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Ah I see .. wouldn't wanna see anything on my BEL either ...:rolleye2:

Use a couple of smaller rats and just give them free run in the enclosure. If you hold onto the rat you may stress it out which could lead to it biting your snake.

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Originally Posted by Nuzum1978

Use a couple of smaller rats and just give them free run in the enclosure. If you hold onto the rat you may stress it out which could lead to it biting your snake.

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That is an idea too ..... I'd be just too afraid not being able to get the rat away quickly enough if it start biting :oops:

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Originally Posted by JibbaJabba

That is an idea too ..... I'd be just too afraid not being able to get the rat away quickly enough if it start biting :oops:

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Domesticated rats that are well fed and well hydrated don't run up to your snake and attack it. Most times they'll sniff it, then go sit in a corner and start to groom themselves. They don't see the snake as a danger to them until it's too late. .

I've never fed rats but never seen an "aggressive" mouse either, mine usually wander around the cage until they get eaten and don't fight much at all. It's not like the prey no matter what you are feeding seem to realize the snake is a threat or even notice the snake much, as long as your snake is a good aggressive eater there isn't much risk either way, just always supervise in case.

ok all this answered my question on the difference between rats & mice.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Domesticated rats that are well fed and well hydrated don't run up to your snake and attack it. Most times they'll sniff it, then go sit in a corner and start to groom themselves. They don't see the snake as a danger to them until it's too late. .

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Cheers, although I wasn't worried about the rat attacking the snake but the snake missing at striking and the rat trying to run away and defend itself.

But I guess the real danger is in a small enclosure which shouldn't be the case in a vivarium anyway (plus of course you need to watch the 'action') :gj:

Well mice ARE dangerous lol .. I fed my king snake today with a mouse which was a tad too big so he needed a few attempts .. and the mouse jumped away and got wedged between viv wall and waterbowl and couldn't get out ..

So I tried to free the mouse and bang, mouse got ME...

http://i43.tinypic.com/21lsvpx.jpg

It was ME drawing blood lol :colbert:

But my King got it eventually ... pfff .. little gitt :8:

Yea just be ready when the snake grabs the rat and the rat starts to bite just grab its head or mouse (with something) i normally just stick a pencil in the mouth IF it starts to try to bite which is rare