Ya'll were NOT kiddin!!

Three small rats! That is what Hissy has eaten over the last three weeks! (one per week!) She is gettin freakin HUGE!!!!

I had thought that perhaps you were all exaggerating just a little bit when you said that once on rats she would start to explode right in front of my face but not at all!! She feels SO MUCH stronger too!! I know that there has been a huge debate on the merits of mice vs. rats & everything but I gotta say, she is growing like a weed & her muscle tone has never felt so strong ever since the rats! And i know that she isn't just blowin up cuz she hasn't pooped cuz she pooped between her second last & last meals! This little girl is finally startin to look all plump & happy like a BP is supposed to! I gotta get into the 21st century & purchase a way (digital cam or scanner of my own) to get some updated pics of this little lady online for you to see!! It feels SO good to think back to how badly she was doing when I got her (underweight, patchy sheds) to where she is now! Rats are a good thing, I think, for our snakey poos!

Oh yeah dude - once I got Icc on rats he had a wicked growth spurt he's nearly two and a half feet now and he's like a year and a half old or so (I think) haha.

I just started on rats three weeks ago, and I totally agree... Bongo is growing like mad! Rats must be like miracle grow for BPs

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I just started on rats three weeks ago, and I totally agree...

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I too started feeding rat's to Monty Joe three weeks ago, and I can deffinetly tell a difference in his girth allready.

After a long discussion on another board, I have been convinced that a weaned rat is more nutritious than a weaned mouse. However, I still think a weaned mouse is more nutritious than an unweaned rat. The reason being, an unweaned rat would a) not have fully developed bones b) still be feeding on milk, thus being higher in fat, and c) not as active, thus also making it higher in fat.

I am going to pick up a rat for Ippo at the reptile show this weekend; he ate both hopper mice and rat pups before I got him so I'm hoping I won't have much trouble getting him to accept it.

small rats = a fat healthy bp.

Congrats Eddie, and everyone who's seeing the great growth. :) Now that I've moved, it's about time for me to make room in the freezer and get a good order of rats in meself.

Told Ya. LOL

Hey aaron, i just just signed the petition you have linked. people's comments are hilarious.

Amber's chowing on rats now...definitely chilled for a good 2 days in her warm hide digesting that thing...she's only 6 months old and already about 25"

I need to post some pics to this effect: Two of our BPs from the same clutch, one made the transition to rats the other did not - the difference will amaze you. Betty who succeeded in doing so has had to be bumped to a bigger enclosure the difference is that dramatic.

When do you switch them to rats? Sophie is about 4mos old and weighs 200 grams....I had to give her 2 adult mice yesterday (they were on the small side though) and you still really couldn't see much of a bulge when she was done......

Hey Will, thanks. I didn't start it but it seems like a good cause

I really would like to see those pics, Smulkin

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Originally Posted by sophie42204

When do you switch them to rats?

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I go by the rule that as long as the prey is the appropriate size for the snake, the earlier the switch the better. One correctly sized meal is better than two smaller ones, in my opinion.

Congrats on the switch over Eddie!

Man, I thought it was in my head cuz Ozzy has been on small rats for 4 weeks and is puttin it on also :)
My Vet told me in his opinion it was good to feed adult mice while their young then as they close in on 8-12 mos switch.
He is lovin life munchin rats and chillin in his new house.

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I really would like to see those pics, Smulkin

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Finally got em:

Betty (Beatrice) is the lighter colored one with more girth - she made the transition to rats 5 weeks ago and weighs in at 816g.
Benny (Bene****) is the darker who didn't want to make the transition (he's getting there) and weighs in at 562g.

http://www.madwag.com/herpics/transition.jpg
http://www.madwag.com/herpics/benbetjul04a.jpg
http://www.madwag.com/herpics/benbetjul04b.jpg

i REALLY like the second picture, it just seems so cool looking

those are very kewl pix!

The middle picture is incredible! Definitely a Kodak moment! :)

Gracias - yeah they never waste any time at all cuddling up like that lol.

Definately shows the difference in girth growth between rat eaters & mouse eaters!! I tried feedin Hissy mice on monday & she was all like, dad, get these little pieces of crap outta here & give me my rats!! She didn't want anything to do with mouseage anymore!!

What do you guys think about starting the snakey on appropriately sized rats right away? I'm getting a 4 month old BP from an exotic pet place a few towns over, and I've heard of people starting off their BP with rats right away. Anyone know the pros and cons of this? :)

edit: crap, missed the second page. Sweet pics, I really like the 2nd one! How do you get them to stay still enough for that?:shock:

Like everyone else, I love the second photo. :)

That second one looks like a candidate for BPOTM