Mice vs. rats ?

I searched around here but I couldn't really find a thread (might have used the wrong terms) so here it goes.

I might get a problematic royal which only feeds on live. Considering how rats can pull up a fight I am thinking about using mice instead (he doesn't take freshly killed either).

Is there a good reason NOT to feed on mice ? Can I just feed two large instead of a weaner rat for example ? Do the rats have a certain nutrition value royals need ?

Don't make the mistake of thinking mice don't fight. The young ones may be a bit timid, but when you have to start feeding adult mice they can be ferocious little buggers just like rats. If you end up having to feed live, make sure you closely supervise it until the prey is dead, and be ready to use the tongs to restrain the preys mouth, if need be, during constriction. I think the best thing about rats is they get bigger so you won't end up having to feed multiple mice as the snake gets bigger. For me, feeding f/t is better, because it's easier to keep a consistent supply of appropriate sized rats on hand, rather than hoping the pet store has the size I need...

Theres somthing called an "ASF" rat African Soft Fur rat Its a mediam size rat very tame extreamly clean animals. Mice are gross and smell like somthing died everyday, rats are a little better than mice with smell, but asfs dont have a stink gland as the mice and rats do. Do a little bit of research on them and see if any of your local pet stores have them. They may be a little pricey but extreamly worth it! =D

-Payson

ASF's are clean, but not tame by any means...

I've never used ASF's, but I've heard people refer to them as "BP crack"...

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

I've never used ASF's, but I've heard people refer to them as "BP crack"...

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heh

honestly I think mice bite the snakes more than rats do. IMO I have seen rats that are left in with the snake move around the bedding, but mice go after the snake and bite them.

Dont let their size fool you. They might be smaller than a rat, but mice are much meaner than a young rat. Usually rats sit there not sure what to do since they are so young...

To a new keeper, live rats can be intimidating - they were to me, when I first made the switch from mice to rats.

In my experience, rats are far more calm than mice, any day of the week, and appropriately sized, are no more dangerous than mice.

I feed live exclusively (except for my albino ball python - but I feed him f/t for aesthetic reasons), and have done so for at least five years, with only a handful of insignificant scratches in all that time.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

To a new keeper, live rats can be intimidating - they were to me, when I first made the switch from mice to rats.

In my experience, rats are far more calm than mice, any day of the week, and appropriately sized, are no more dangerous than mice.

I feed live exclusively (except for my albino ball python - but I feed him f/t for aesthetic reasons), and have done so for at least five years, with only a handful of insignificant scratches in all that time.

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

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Originally Posted by rabernet

except for my albino ball python - but I feed him f/t for aesthetic reasons.

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Aesthetic reasons ?

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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