Mice vs. Rats?

[wonderwhitters]

I've heard a lot of different opinions about long term what's best for ball pythons when it comes to mice vs. rats. I've heard some say it doesn't matter, and I've heard others say rats are best. I know that BP's tend to "imprint" on certain types of food as well. I'm curious what the general opinion is on what's best in the long run? I know this topic may have a lot of differing opinions as well. I'm just still very new at ball python keeping, and I hope to always do what's best for my boy. ♥

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Gram per gram grams it's all the same the difference is when a snake reaches adulthood you either feed multiple preys (mice) or 1 prey (rats). So it's about convenience, and cost.

[Bogertophis]

Rats or mice both are nutritionally complete for BPs & very similar. (some ppl still insist rats are more nutritious, but studies I've seen don't agree)

The real issues are size & acceptance:
BPs are often started on fuzzy/hopper mice as they're the right size. (mouse pinks are too small for their big mouths, & rat pinks aren't very filling) And yes, snakes
often prefer the familiar food...don't we all? So often they want mice, while new owners struggle to feed them rat pups. Not all snakes switch so easily.

But for the long run, rats are thought to be better, because many BPs won't accept more than one item per meal, & when BPs are full-grown, one mouse isn't going
to fill them up, whereas they can eat one rat of appropriate size & be "full". Between the 2 options, I'm glad that none of my current snakes need to eat rats, as they
are far more intelligent, whereas mice belong where they are in the food chain. I've always raised my own rodents, & rats are personable, trainable & good parents
-nearly always- whereas mice, while cute & appealing colors, just don't relate to people much & when they tire of raising their young, kill them horribly...well, actually
they chew them up & leave them half-alive, to tell the truth...& it's not crowding, lack of food, fighting or any obvious defect in the babies...just tired of raising them.
So I'd much rather feed mice to my snakes.

In the past when I raised all kinds of rodents (hamsters too), I often fed a variety of culls to my snakes with no problem...except for the BPs. I'm mostly a colubrid
keeper, & while I've had BPs in the past, I no longer do, but I sympathize.

[wonderwhitters]

Great info! Thank you for sharing! I think I prefer feeding mice over rats just as I think rats are such intelligent and fascinating creatures, but if he becomes big enough that he needs rats, then I'll definitely supply them. I honestly just want what is best for him.