Best Food for BP's

Nutritionally, what is the best food for a ball python?

Mice, Rats, ASFs or Gerbils

Thanks

What ever they will eat! LOL

I've got animals that eat Mice, some eat ASFS, some eat rats, some will try to eat me.. LOL

All of them seem to grow at the same rate with very little variance

Need an "all of the above" option. :gj:

I have been told that it's better to feed rats than mice because the rats have more to offer nutritionally. I'm wondering how the ASFs and gerbils fit in.

Thanks.

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

I have been told that it's better to feed rats than mice because the rats have more to offer nutritionally. I'm wondering how the ASFs and gerbils fit in.

Thanks.

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I have a girl that eats an ASF every week and shes put on 75-100 grams every month for the last 6 months.

Its not the nutritional value but rather the volume of intake. IF you feed a snake a 150 gram rat or 150 grams of mice its pretty much the same thing. :D

Don't rats have a higher muscle to fat content than mice? Meaning that there would be more nutrients to extract.

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Originally Posted by Typical_08

Don't rats have a higher muscle to fat content than mice? Meaning that there would be more nutrients to extract.

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No clue.

I can only comment on what I've seen over the years in my collection.

Ok cool. I'm really not sure. I just thought I remembered something from Animal Planet saying they did. But then again. Last night on Wild Freaky and True the speaker refered to a moose as a predator. So ok then.

I use lettuce. My BP is a vegan.

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Originally Posted by Typical_08

Ok cool. I'm really not sure. I just thought I remembered something from Animal Planet saying they did. But then again. Last night on Wild Freaky and True the speaker refered to a moose as a predator. So ok then.

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I saw that they also showed a Ball and said "This killer could easily over power a small child and kill it."

I about craped my pants.

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Originally Posted by skoalbasher

i use lettuce. My bp is a vegan.

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:8:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

I saw that they also showed a Ball and said "This killer could easily over power a small child and kill it."

I about craped my pants.

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That show owes me a TV. I spit beer all over it when they said that.

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Originally Posted by Typical_08

That show owes me a TV. I spit beer all over it when they said that.

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Not only a TV, but more importantly a BEER! :D

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Originally Posted by snakecharmer3638

Not only a TV, but more importantly a BEER! :D

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Touche. It was a the last of my home brew Imperial Stout too.

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Originally Posted by Typical_08

Don't rats have a higher muscle to fat content than mice? Meaning that there would be more nutrients to extract.

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im not 100% sure but i beleive that rats are better cuz they have bigger bones and thus more calcium....with calcium ur snake will get big, but stay brittle... which is also why powerfeeding is a big problem

I feed both rats, asf and mice. I think they are all good feeders so long as they themselves have been on a good diet and not just dog food. That's my opinion. I prefer feeding asf.

Here you go: http://www.rodentpro.com/qpage_articles_03.asp :)

Good resourse thanks. I bookmarked it.
Mouse, domestic Crude protein 55.8 crude fat 23.6 gross energy kcal/g 5.25? Adult or >10 g


Rat Crude protein 57.9 crude fat 23.7 gross energy kcal/g 5.30? Neonatal, <10 g

Very interesting indeed.

so i hope this ant to dumb of a question ... but are asf ???

Like I have said before. I am pretty new to this thing, and honestly. I don't have the foggiest idea what ASF stands for.

ASF= African Soft-Furred Rats :)

LOL thanks. I figured it out about ten seconds ago when I read the thread that ASFs are banned in Georgia.

Going to go bang my head against the desk some more.

:gj:

this is an ASF :D

Http://www.wildmorphs.com/uploads/rats/pregoasf.JPG

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Originally Posted by Skoalbasher

I use lettuce. My BP is a vegan.

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^hahahahahaha....nice. :rofl:

awww... so cute ... im sure my BP would love one lol ... but im sure i read in another forum somewhere that some ppl try anoles and other small lizards

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Originally Posted by SnM_Man

awww... so cute ... im sure my BP would love one lol ... but im sure i read in another forum somewhere that some ppl try anoles and other small lizards

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That's ASKING for trouble from parasites. I'm not sure a ball would even think to eat a lizard anyway... no heat signature.

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Originally Posted by Typical_08

Good resourse thanks. I bookmarked it.
Mouse, domestic Crude protein 55.8 crude fat 23.6 gross energy kcal/g 5.25? Adult or >10 g


Rat Crude protein 57.9 crude fat 23.7 gross energy kcal/g 5.30? Neonatal, <10 g

Very interesting indeed.

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So, what if a BP only REQUIRES 40% protein in their diet? Then both are equally nutritious to a ball python.

The flaw in this poll is that no one has done a study on ball python nutritional requirements, so no one can definitively say one prey item is better than another. Just because something is higher than another in something doesn't make it better. Vitamin C is good for you - but too much isn't.

I voted for "Whatever your snake will eat" - oh wait, that wasn't an option. ;)

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Originally Posted by SnM_Man

awww... so cute ... im sure my BP would love one lol ... but im sure i read in another forum somewhere that some ppl try anoles and other small lizards

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oh yea? thats kinda funny because that not their native food also the parasite issue!
not to mention why? last time i checked rodents are much cheaper and easier to come by than lizards.

i wouldnt and to think that forum allowed it now thats sad!

oh yea and just so you know this isnt what i would like to say about it. thats not allowed

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Originally Posted by rabernet

The flaw in this poll is that no one has done a study on ball python nutritional requirements, so no one can definitively say one prey item is better than another.

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That's all I needed to know. If I could edit my post I would close the poll. :D

Thanks.

PS - I'm a little disappointed that no one voted for gerbils. I used to feed them exclusively and had good results. Plus they didn't smell and were fun to have around. Bite=dinner, No bite=pet.

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

That's all I needed to know. If I could edit my post I would close the poll. :D

Thanks.

PS - I'm a little disappointed that no one voted for gerbils. I used to feed them exclusively and had good results. Plus they didn't smell and were fun to have around. Bite=dinner, No bite=pet.

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i hate gerbils
when i had them they bite all the time give you tiny litters

well according to that cart adult mice have higher calcium value and roughly the same protien n fat values so im gunna have to switch my vote to mice !!

I have to imagine that ASFs provide pretty darn close to a natural diet.

Also, plenty of BPs live over 30 years on common rats.

Mice don't measure up, size-wise, for full grown bps imo

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Originally Posted by nixer

i hate gerbils
when i had them they bite all the time give you tiny litters

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For someone with one or two snakes, smaller litters are better. I had almost none that would bite me but some would fight with the other gerbils. They went first. If no one was fighting I would have to pick some other way.

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

For someone with one or two snakes, smaller litters are better. I had almost none that would bite me but some would fight with the other gerbils. They went first. If no one was fighting I would have to pick some other way.

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ahahaha... i bet that taught the coloney beter!!! lol ... i hope they learned their lesson

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

...Mice don't measure up, size-wise, for full grown bps imo

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If you feed multiples, why not?

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Originally Posted by starmom

why not?

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Why put them through the stress of eating multiple mice in the same sitting when you can feed one rat?

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Originally Posted by Typical_08

Why put them through the stress of eating multiple mice in the same sitting when you can feed one rat?

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Who says it's stressful? ;)

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Originally Posted by Typical_08

Why put them through the stress of eating multiple mice in the same sitting when you can feed one rat?

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Since when is eating stress-inducing??? :weirdface

As I said, am a bit new to this. But from some of the things I have read here, and a few other places, eating two meals in one sitting is stressful to them.

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Originally Posted by Typical_08

As I said, am a bit new to this. But from some of the things I have read here, and a few other places, eating two meals in one sitting is stressful to them.

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Actually, digesting a larger prey item can be more taxing on their system than two smaller ones that equal the same volume - as the two would be less dense than the one.

However, for an animal that is an opportunistic feeder in the wild, I doubt seriously that there's much stress involved in being fed multiple prey on feeding day.

Bottom line - feed what your snake will eat, and what's convenient for you. Don't worry about other people's opinions. If multiple mice work well for you - feed multiple mice. If one rat a week works well for you - feed one rat. :)

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Originally Posted by Typical_08

As I said, am a bit new to this. But from some of the things I have read here, and a few other places, eating two meals in one sitting is stressful to them.

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This is all going to depend on the snake. I have a female Mojave that is very shy and will not eat unless totally left alone overnight. I can get her to eat every week this way but if I try two days in a row she shuts down for a month.

Then you take my Pinstripe or my het Snow girl I can feed them anytime and every day if I wanted to.

Each animal is different and some may get stressed and some might not

What about comparing it to cheeseburgers? 2 singles has more bread than a double.

One big mouse has the same amount of meat as 2 small mice but less fur, tail, teeth, etc.

mmmmmmmm good ;)

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

One big mouse has the same amount of meat as 2 small mice but less fur, tail, teeth, etc.

mmmmmmmm good ;)

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What if the bigger mouse has double the size teeth and tail and the amount of fur cause its twice as big? :cool:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

What if the bigger mouse has double the size teeth and tail and the amount of fur cause its twice as big? :cool:

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What if a tree fell on a mouse in the woods but no was around to hear it go squish?

I like this game. It's like philosophy class. Your turn. :banana:

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

What if a tree fell on a mouse in the woods but no was around to hear it go squish?

I like this game. It's like philosophy class. Your turn. :banana:

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:8::8::rofl::rofl::rofl:

There is no best food, the best food is what works for your BP and is convenient for you.

However I would not recommend gerbils, they are expensive, aggressive and have longer teeth than other rodents, also once your BP imprint on them it becomes VERY difficult to switch them back which could be an issue if you had to re-home your animal.

Couldn't agree more on the gerbil aspect. I have an adult male rescue that was being fed gerbils... he did not take a meal for 7 months when the gerbil train finally ended, and is still a very inconsistent feeder.

IMHO it is the WORST food option for a BP.

Bruce

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Originally Posted by Skoalbasher

I use lettuce. My BP is a vegan.

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lol My daughter in law would love it if that were true She's the ultimate vegan

I'm really debating on whether or not to switch over to f/t. My rat supply is dwindling, and I'm sick and tired of spending $6.99 for a "medium" rat that should be in the "small" bin and spending $4.99 for "small" rats that are just glorified mice. I want to strangle someone right now. O_o

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Originally Posted by Melicious

I'm really debating on whether or not to switch over to f/t. My rat supply is dwindling, and I'm sick and tired of spending $6.99 for a "medium" rat that should be in the "small" bin and spending $4.99 for "small" rats that are just glorified mice. I want to strangle someone right now. O_o

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WOW. That is a touch expensive. Medium rats here are only $2.99 dollars even.