Mice to Rats

[frankykeno]

This day just keeps getting better and better!

Both Keena and Riona loved their new diet. Apparently rat weans are nummy! Both girls did hesitate a moment when faced with their p/k rats but a few tongue flicks and both of them got the idea this was dinner and hit with their usual enthusiasm.

The pet store kept saying they didn't have "weans". Got there and sure enough there was a tank of the lil boogers (nice 3 to 4 inch w/o tail measurement just like I read on RodentPro). They called them small rats but they were weaners - and that's good eatin! LOL


~~Jo~~

[tigerlily]

Oh congrats! Yeah for them! Hooray!!

[mlededee]

glad to hear your girls liked their dinner. they'll get nice and plump for you eating rats!

[kavmon]

yeah it's easier to feed one rat vs. multiple mice,pinks,pups. you should see some growth simply because you're putting more calories into them now. hope they stay on rats!(they should) but remember always feed them what they will eat.


vaughn

[jglass38]

I gotta say, I am not a big fan of rats but those weaned ones are cute! They become quite ugly just a few days later.

[frankykeno]

Thanks all! Yep Vaughn we are planning to offer them rats weans for about 3 or 4 weeks to make sure they are consistent on them before we do our first bulk frozen order (I mean who wants a buncha frozen rats in ye olde freezer that the snakes won't eat.....rat shish-ka-bobs anyone?)

Actually it was kind of wierd feeding rats as we have 4 pet rats but in the end didn't bother me all that much really. Prey is prey after all and I enjoy the sight of cows peacefully grazing but it doesn't put me off a nice juicy T-bone LOL.

It was very nice last night to feed them that one wean compared to the multipe mice thing. A bit more efficient and they seemed quite content afterwards and didn't do the "is there another mouse coming" thing. The 6 month old did immediately retreat to her hide and curl up, however, the 23 month old did do a bit of searching for more. At some point we'll have to consider that she may need to either move up in prey size or two weans but no rush on that. Better she gains her weight back nice and steady and slow I think.


~~Jo~~

[jglass38]

I just purchased 4 more BPs over the last week. All had only been fed mice and only live. Their first meals with me were all FT small rats. They are just fat and happy now. All curled up and digesting what is probably the biggest meals they have ever had. Rats are definitely the way to go. I have an '04 male that has been on rats since I got him last August. He is over 1200 grams now. One of the males I picked up the other day was been on mice and is an '03. He is only about 350 grams. Big difference!

[kavmon]

i agree i've noticed my biggest gains with strong rat feeders. but don't count out mousers, they can be big but you have to feed alot more mice because they rats weigh more. it's all about calorie intake! i've seen some pretty big mousers!!!


vaughn

[HelicopterPilot]

Jo-how big are your BP's?

I am asking this becuase when I get my Female BP i want to feed it rats . What size should be reccomended for 1-3 month old BP. I was thinking somewhere around Rat pups and weaned Rats ,but I wan't to know for sure.

thanks

[frankykeno]

One of ours is 6 months old, 28 inches long and about 450 grams. The other is 23 months old, 33 inches long and about 500 grams.

I'd look at www.rodentpro.com as there is great comparisons from all stages of mice and rats that list their weights and lengths (not including tails). From what I can see an adult mouse is about equal with a rat pup. So for our snakes that were easily taking down 2 adult mice per week, 1 wean per week is a nice step up for them. A bit bigger size prey granted but still not exceeding their widest empty girth.

It would depend on the size of your new snake. There's a lot more experienced people here than me that are better able to advise you on what's appropriate prey size for a young bp.


~~Jo~~