Brightening normal

[J.Vandegrift]

Ive done my research and in my opinion rats are more healthy as adults than mice, only a significant difference but have a higher amount of protein and calcium, but also more fat.(% protein/fat roughly the same) Rat pups have higher percentages of needed nutrients but contain less as a whole. And mice have a much higher amount of vitamin A which is not needed in high amounts for bps, nearly 7x the amount. Mice also only contain very small amounts of vitamin E which is converted into antioxidants to help fight against diseases. Rats contain nearly 20x the amount as mice.

A 10g mouse is going to contain about 29-31% dry matter and in that contains 54-57% protein, 22-25% fat, 10-12% ash, 2-3% calcium, 1-2% phosphorus.

A 10g rat is going to contain about 23-25% dry matter and in that contains 58-61% protein, 24-27% fat, 10-12% ash, 2-3% calcium, 1-2% phosphorus.

Adult rats about 30-32% dry matter that contains 60-62% protein, 28-31% fat, 9-11% ash, 3-4% calcium, 1-2 % phosphorus.

Im sure most people dont bother to break down into detail but when you do you can see small difference in the two.

That is all nice, but do you know the nutritional requirements of ball pythons?

[JASBALLS]

Ive done my research and in my opinion rats are more healthy as adults than mice, only a significant difference but have a higher amount of protein and calcium, but also more fat.(% protein/fat roughly the same) Rat pups have higher percentages of needed nutrients but contain less as a whole. And mice have a much higher amount of vitamin A which is not needed in high amounts for bps, nearly 7x the amount. Mice also only contain very small amounts of vitamin E which is converted into antioxidants to help fight against diseases. Rats contain nearly 20x the amount as mice.

A 10g mouse is going to contain about 29-31% dry matter and in that contains 54-57% protein, 22-25% fat, 10-12% ash, 2-3% calcium, 1-2% phosphorus.

A 10g rat is going to contain about 23-25% dry matter and in that contains 58-61% protein, 24-27% fat, 10-12% ash, 2-3% calcium, 1-2% phosphorus.

Adult rats about 30-32% dry matter that contains 60-62% protein, 28-31% fat, 9-11% ash, 3-4% calcium, 1-2 % phosphorus.

Im sure most people dont bother to break down into detail but when you do you can see small difference in the two.

Your research was a waste of time!

[rabernet]

Ive done my research and in my opinion rats are more healthy as adults than mice, only a significant difference but have a higher amount of protein and calcium, but also more fat.(% protein/fat roughly the same) Rat pups have higher percentages of needed nutrients but contain less as a whole. And mice have a much higher amount of vitamin A which is not needed in high amounts for bps, nearly 7x the amount. Mice also only contain very small amounts of vitamin E which is converted into antioxidants to help fight against diseases. Rats contain nearly 20x the amount as mice.

A 10g mouse is going to contain about 29-31% dry matter and in that contains 54-57% protein, 22-25% fat, 10-12% ash, 2-3% calcium, 1-2% phosphorus.

A 10g rat is going to contain about 23-25% dry matter and in that contains 58-61% protein, 24-27% fat, 10-12% ash, 2-3% calcium, 1-2% phosphorus.

Adult rats about 30-32% dry matter that contains 60-62% protein, 28-31% fat, 9-11% ash, 3-4% calcium, 1-2 % phosphorus.

Im sure most people dont bother to break down into detail but when you do you can see small difference in the two.

But what if a ball python only requires 40% protein, 18% fat, 8% ash, 2% calcium and no phosphorus? Then a mouse would be the better choice, wouldn't it?

No one has ever done a study on the nutritional requirements of ball pythons, so the study you posted is meaningless, really.

There are a lot of mousers in people's collections that are thriving, and a lot of ratters in people's collections that are thriving. It has nothing to do with one being better than the other.

[JLC]

John....be nice.

NateDogg....if you prefer to feed rats over mice....more power to you. If you feel they have some greater nutritional value...that's a fine opinion. Just be aware that no one knows the nutritional requirements of ball pythons, and therefore, it is impossible to say with any certainty that one rodent is "better" for them than another. It could be that the extra calcium or whatever just gets passed through as waste and never used...or too much protein is less healthy than slightly less amounts. I doubt we'll ever know for sure.

As for the snake getting lighter with sheds...it happens sometimes. I've never heard it attributed to a change in prey items, but who knows? And to press the previous point just a little more (not because I'm being snotty, but because such things genuinely interest me)...who's to say that an increase in lighter colors is a healthy thing? Just because it looks more appealing to the keeper does not indicate how healthy it may or may not be for the snake.

[JASBALLS]

OH No!!! She's BACK!!! lol!! Hi Judy! Dont look at the past threads... Ok? Just a borinig week here nothing to look at.. Post some of Your Holiday stuff!!

[JLC]

Yesssss....I'm back. Does this mean you'll behave yourself now?

[JASBALLS]

Yesssss....I'm back. Does this mean you'll behave yourself now?

Yessumm!

[Gib]

Almost all females will get that nice glow to em when they start developing Follicles...it usually just gets better and better before htey lay tho...


And as far as rats vs Mice...not even worth tryin to talk to most of these folks here about such things...Just have to let them experience it for themselves

[NateDogg13]

Your research was a waste of time!

Not quite, I didnt think about not knowing the nutrional needs of BPs but at least I know whats in the food I give them, whether it be mice or rats its always nice to know. Maybe, just maybe(if were lucky) one day someone will figure out what Bps need in there diet and then Ill be a step ahead .


Almost all females will get that nice glow to em when they start developing Follicles...it usually just gets better and better before htey lay tho...

Do they start developing follicles around 1.5-2 years of age? If so you answered my question right on the dot

[smalls92]

I just took my male bp out today after a complete shed and I could swear that he got lighter