bugs or slow grower?

should i continue to use Artic mice/rats...or what frozen rats do you guys use?

Well, that depends on a lot of things. Arctic food items are not always the best quality, and they can be costly. However, ordering online from a larger dealer like Rodent Pro can be even worse by the time you add in shipping.

Some of us are fortunate enough to have local sources of frozen feeders available to us for very reasonable prices.

Some of us also have the option of buying from local shows and that is usually for a very good price.

Your best bet is to use the Arctic for now, while you investigate other options for high quality feeders at reasonable prices.

Gale

You can look on craigslist or even find your local Herp Society I am sure there is a local supplier of Frozen in your area I found several in mine when I started looking. The bigger mail order companies have better prices but shipping is expensive.

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Originally Posted by sandra

should i continue to use Artic mice/rats...or what frozen rats do you guys use?

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There is your problem right there. The prey items are NOT 45g each. That is 45g for ALL the mice in the box. You are underfeeding and that is why your ball is undersized. This is all too common and is usually just because the owner has been misled or misinformed on proper feeding. As has been said, Artic Mice is overpriced and mediocre quality. Craigslist might be worth checking into for a local breeder. Most online feeder sites like Rodent Pro, Big Cheese, Layne Labs, etc only offer in larger quantities, which wouldn't be appropriate for a single snake.

RestlessRobie nailed it. Get your snake on appropriate sized (10-15% body weight) rats now. I will also second what RestlessRobie said about rats being more nutritious and seeming to promote better growth. You said your snake weighs 184g, so you will want to feed it rats which are in the 18-28g range (give or take a gram or so). It may seem like a lot at first since you're used to feeding small meals.

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Originally Posted by AK907

There is your problem right there. The prey items are NOT 45g each. That is 45g for ALL the mice in the box. You are underfeeding and that is why your ball is undersized. This is all too common and is usually just because the owner has been misled or misinformed on proper feeding. As has been said, Artic Mice is overpriced and mediocre quality. Craigslist might be worth checking into for a local breeder. Most online feeder sites like Rodent Pro, Big Cheese, Layne Labs, etc only offer in larger quantities, which wouldn't be appropriate for a single snake.

RestlessRobie nailed it. Get your snake on appropriate sized (10-15% body weight) rats now. I will also second what RestlessRobie said about rats being more nutritious and seeming to promote better growth. You said your snake weighs 184g, so you will want to feed it rats which are in the 18-28g range (give or take a gram or so). It may seem like a lot at first since you're used to feeding small meals.

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x2 In the meantime, you can go ahead and feed him two of those Arctic mice per meal (until you find a supplier with the right sized rats).

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

x2 In the meantime, you can go ahead and feed him two of those Arctic mice per meal (until you find a supplier with the right sized rats).

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Absolutely! Waste not, want not. :gj:

I have snakes that are 1 year old that have passed up my 4 year old Ghost BP in weight. He is a pretty consistant eater but has always been on the small side - he is about 900 grams now and looks healthy but just small for his age compared to my other bps.

I guess no two are exactly alike in growth, personality!!!

In regards to the parasites - my thought is that if his poop is firm (not runny) then it is highly unlikely that he has internal parasites. But, to settle your mind - just take his next pooper into the vet for a fecal float to make sure - this usually runs about $40.

Good Luck.

Thank you soo much!! You guys are awesome! i'll get right on it :)

there is a local pet store that sells live feeder rats, they are like 3 dollars each. And now with the scale i can get the appropriate size of rats!

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Originally Posted by sandra

there is a local pet store that sells live feeder rats, they are like 3 dollars each. And now with the scale i can get the appropriate size of rats!

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:gj: Welcome to the nerdery with the rest of us.