care sheets

[WhiteTiger9188]

i was reading the care sheet on feeding and i think there is a small mistake but i could easily be wrong.

We recommend that you feed mice from the time of birth until the time it becomes a juvenile. Mice are higher in calcium then rats are, and this is important for them during this time of growth. For this reason it is not a wise idea to start them on rats immediately.

it seems like it might be a mistake about the mice being higher in calcium thats why u need to switch to rats???

[DonMeyer]

Rats are better than mice

[hhw]

Well, I'm not sure about mice compared to rats, but I would presume a weaned mouse to be much higher in calcium than a rat pup of the same size. So, until your BP is big enough to take weaned rats, mice of the equivalent size would be higher in calcium.

[Marla]

Yes, it is all about the rodent's stage of growth. Fully-formed bones have more calcium than pinky and fuzzy bones, regardless of whether you are feeding rats or mice. Likewise, pinkies and fuzzies have a higher proportion of fat and less protein than older juvenile or adult rodents. Other than that, the difference in nutritional value of mice vs. rats is negligible.

[sophie42204]

Well, I'm not sure about mice compared to rats, but I would presume a weaned mouse to be much higher in calcium than a rat pup of the same size. So, until your BP is big enough to take weaned rats, mice of the equivalent size would be higher in calcium.

I believe you are correct. Adult mice provide more calcium than rat pups, therefore until your BP is large enough to take small adult rats, you should feed adult mice.

[WhiteTiger9188]

thanks that makes alot more sence. i rememberd reading somewhere that rats had more calcium. ohh well.

[Smulkin]

Marla hit the nail on the head:

Gram per gram an adult mouse will have more developed bones (hence more calcium) than a baby rat.