Boa Feeding

Is there a reason why we feed mice to boas at first instead of rats? My boa is on hopper mice, and I would like to transition him to rat fuzzies asap as my blood is on rats, and I would like to have them both on rats. I've heard rats are harder to digest and have more fat. Is this why we feed mice until they are ready to start on weanlings?

I was told (not sure how true as no one gave sources to studies which would have been good to see) that boas tend to be prone to having issues digesting the milk in the bellies of baby rats and it can cause regurgitation.

I'm guessing proportionally the hopper mice have less milk than similar sized rats as they're usually nibbling real food by then and have smaller stomachs so it causes fewer issues.

I know BCC/BC are more sensitive in general than BCI/BI, so it might be a bigger issue there. I swapped mine (BI) to rats at the large pup size for convenience and have had no issues with my 2 boas. I probably wouldn't want to do fuzzies, the pups are usually eating some real food already so it isn't as much milk to process.

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OK, I've never heard that before. That is interesting, I am going to have to do some research. Anyone else hear of this?

Usually you feed adult mice over rat pups because they have a proper ratio of calcium, a fully grown rodent vs a baby.

For true rtb's (Suriname/Guyana and some others) feeding mice the first year is less likely to cause any digestive issues. Rats have proven problematic with 'some' at a young age. The reason is debatable...the results are sound.

Hey guys thanks for the info. It will help me out.

I remember asking something similar to Vin Russo when I was purchasing my first boa (BI) from him and figuring out the feeding schedule. Vin mentioned that rat pups have more fat, which pythons can tolerate but which is generally not good for boas. He recommended sticking with feeding mice up until the boa outgrows adult mice before making the switch to weaned rats.

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Originally Posted by GoingPostal

Usually you feed adult mice over rat pups because they have a proper ratio of calcium, a fully grown rodent vs a baby.

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This is the reason, as well as, in my experience, similar to bps, they will start on mice faster than rats (I'm talking f/t).
I have started some litters on rat fuzzies before when they are big babies, but I usually start on mouse hoppers/small mice, then move to rat fuzz and pups.
They don't have issues digesting the milk bellies in my experience either. (been breeding boas off and on since 2003)
edit to add - my experience is with Bi, common boas, not the true red tails which I understand can be a bit more delicate with digestion.

So basically once the boas are large enough to take wean-lings I can switch him over?

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

So basically once the boas are large enough to take wean-lings I can switch him over?

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That's pretty much what I did. I went from mouse hoppers to adult mice to weaned rats.

That's what I do too, just keep upping there size as they do

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OK, again thanks guys. This helps alot. Today my So should be moving Sangre to a larger tub.

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Originally Posted by bns

For true rtb's (Suriname/Guyana and some others) feeding mice the first year is less likely to cause any digestive issues. Rats have proven problematic with 'some' at a young age. The reason is debatable...the results are sound.

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This comes from somebody who used to converse with Gus Rentfro somewhat regularly back in the day.

I'm guessing with the 2 Rentfro Pokigron boas he owns and the other experiences he's had with boas the advice about mice is sound.

Mice the first year certainly WILL NOT hurt anything.

If you are not familiar with Gus Rentfro, he is a friend of Vin Russo and probably the biggest contributor to the locality boa world here in the US.

I have a healthy boa because I was open minded enough to listen to some of the feeding advice BNS gave me years back.