Only rats/ mice...

Should I only feed my BP rats/mice? Or can I give him gerbils?
Some people say if you have a picky (wont strike) BP, feed it gerbils because that is the color of the mice in the wild. (Have you ever seen a white mice in the wild?)
Some people say dont ever feed a BP hamsters because they have a different type of fur that will "plug up" and kill a BP.
Some people say pet stores wont sell you gerbils. (If they know what you are doing with them.)
Some people say it is even against the law in some states. (I live in Texas.)
I was just wondering...I think I will say with Fancy Mice...

A girl at Petco wouldnt sell a gerbil to my girlfriend because she said it was "too cute" to be fed to a snake.

stick with mice and rats,a hamster or a gerbil may gnaw it to death,my local petsmart won' sell feeder either.I don't understand why it would bring more customers.

Feed appropriately sized mice or rats. It is best to feed the same type of rodent on the same day each week.

Feeding gerbils and other rodents can get really expensive since ball pythons can be imprint feeders. If you feed them something exotic or expensive, it is a possibility that the snake will only eat those animals.

Do a search on this site. There is tons of good information available already.

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

Feed appropriately sized mice or rats. It is best to feed the same type of rodent on the same day each week.

Feeding gerbils and other rodents can get really expensive since ball pythons can be imprint feeders. If you feed them something exotic or expensive, it is a possibility that the snake will only eat those animals.

Do a search on this site. There is tons of good information available already.

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I second this :gj:

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Originally Posted by Victor Little Bird

Some people say if you have a picky (wont strike) BP, feed it gerbils because that is the color of the mice in the wild. (Have you ever seen a white mice in the wild?)

I was just wondering...I think I will say with Fancy Mice...

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I think sticking with the mice is a good idea.

Rather than offering a gerbil to a "non-striking" BP, I'd work on environment first to find out why they aren't feeding. Temps incorrect (measured with stick on dials rather than a digital thermometer/hygrometer combo), enclosure or hides too large, too much handling, etc.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

enclosure or hides too large

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The pet store I live near just got a new batch of BP's. Do you think a 12X30 (29 Gal.) tank is to big for a ( I guess...7in) BP?

I personally wouldn't house a tiny baby in a 29 gallon long. If you want a tank - go with a 10 gallon with two tight hides. Here's what I personally use for my babies - it's a 15 quart tub from Dollar General. Heating pad has since been replaced by flexwatt and a thermostat.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...b/BabyRack.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...ub/BabyTub.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...b/BabyTub2.jpg

Additionally, you might consider purchasing a nice male from a breeder rather than the pet store. Pet stores are usually imports, and imports this late in the season generally aren't as healthy as ones imported earlier in the year and certainly not as healthy as one you can get from a reputable breeder!

The thing is that gerbils have the same odor as gerboas, which are what Ball Pythons eat in West Africa. Because they recognize that odor as being food, they stray away from the lab rats and mice that we feed them. The chance of switching a Ball Python back to rats/mice from gerbils is very slim. People who own wildcaught Ball Pythons have no choice but to feed their BPs gerbils or otherwise they'll starve.

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Originally Posted by _BoidFinatic_

The thing is that gerbils have the same odor as gerboas

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Where is the proof of this?

Although gerbils are from mongolia, they are in the gerboa(jerboa) family.

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Originally Posted by _BoidFinatic_

Although gerbils are from mongolia, they are in the gerboa(jerboa) family.

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That does not mean that they smell the same. How do you know for a fact that they smell the same to a ball python?

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

That does not mean that they smell the same. How do you know for a fact that they smell the same to a ball python?

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Wildcaught Ball Pythons may only eat gerbils because the odor is close to that of the jerboa. They are rodents of the genus Meriones. The Mongolian gerbil being Meriones unguiculatus and an example of an african gerbil(jerboa, jird) is Meriones Libycus.

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Originally Posted by _BoidFinatic_

Wildcaught Ball Pythons may only eat gerbils because the odor is close to that of the jerboa. They are rodents of the genus Meriones. The Mongolian gerbil being Meriones unguiculatus and an example of an african gerbil(jerboa, jird) is Meriones Libycus.

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That still does not GIVE PROOF that they have the same ODOR to a ball python.....so basically you are just assuming that since they are two rodents of the same genus that they must smell the same to a ball python. Please don't state stuff for fact unless you can prove that it is fact. Assumptions about these kind of things are how common myths like the 'cure all hunger gerbil' get started in the first place.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I personally wouldn't house a tiny baby in a 29 gallon long. If you want a tank - go with a 10 gallon with two tight hides. Here's what I personally use for my babies - it's a 15 quart tub from Dollar General. Heating pad has since been replaced by flexwatt and a thermostat.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...b/BabyRack.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...ub/BabyTub.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...b/BabyTub2.jpg

Additionally, you might consider purchasing a nice male from a breeder rather than the pet store. Pet stores are usually imports, and imports this late in the season generally aren't as healthy as ones imported earlier in the year and certainly not as healthy as one you can get from a reputable breeder!

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I have some of those containers, they are great!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...w/000_3000.jpg

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

That still does not GIVE PROOF that they have the same ODOR to a ball python.....so basically you are just assuming that since they are two rodents of the same genus that they must smell the same to a ball python. Please don't state stuff for fact unless you can prove that it is fact. Assumptions about these kind of things are how common myths like the 'cure all hunger gerbil' get started in the first place.

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You're correct. I am assuming that since they are from the same genus that they smell the same. In my experience with Wildcaught and Captive hatched Ball Pythons, I have noticed that they may only accept gerbils as food. I have seen that they will eat albino gerbils also, so I highly doubt that they eat gerbils only due to their common (darker) colors.

Ever think of similar movements, sounds, etc.....glad to see you ruled out color ;)

LOL.....I wonder if offered both a gerboa and a gerbil....which one would a wild caught specimen take...

Just stiring up some chat :D

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

LOL.....I wonder if offered both a gerboa and a gerbil....which one would a wild caught specimen take...

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How bout you do some research and get back to us with the facts! :)

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Originally Posted by Sputnik

How bout you do some research and get back to us with the facts! :)

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LOL....if you finance the rodent purchase.....I think the going rate for African rodents were around $150 a pair the last time I saw them for sale...ha ha..

You could ask for some gerbil bedding next time you are at the pet store and let the mouse or rat crawl around on that for a while. Then each feeding you let the rat/mouse run around in the bedding for less time until it will eat a mouse/rat without the gerbil smell! Try that!

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

LOL....if you finance the rodent purchase.....I think the going rate for African rodents were around $150 a pair the last time I saw them for sale...ha ha..

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Let me check my wallet.... will they trade moths for rodents? :)

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Originally Posted by Sputnik

Let me check my wallet.... will they trade moths for rodents? :)

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They only take certain species of moths!!! LOL:giggle:

Very funny guys;) .

My brother had just asked me about Hamsters and such and why people don't feed those. I told him price and that it's hard to breed them. Is that true, or did I spew BS? :D

Here's a recent discussion on this very subject - should answer your questions, Grimz

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=31864

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Here's a recent discussion on this very subject - should answer your questions, Grimz

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=31864

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Ahhh, those teeth I imagine would put a hurt on them. Plus, price alone would keep me in the mice/rat business. How about kittens? Would I be able to feed an Adult Boa small kittens? :D


I kid I kid, I happen to like cats (to bad we don't have one :( ).

Sweet pics! Thank you! I noticed nothing to climb on. Do you ever have any problem with your BP shedding?