who has more body fat or fat period?

[harm286]

Well, according to:

Nutrient Composition of Whole Vertebrate Prey (Excluding fish)
Prepared By: Ellen S. Dierenfeld, PhD, Heather L. Alcorn, BS, and Krista L. Jacobsen, MS - 2002
(http://www.rodentpro.com/qpage_articles_03.asp)


The order of rodent prey species with the highest percentage of crude fat from greatest to least would be:

Prey Species (Scientific name) - Notes - Crude Fat Percentage
Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) - Males, 10 week - 46.10%
Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) - Neonatal males - 34.70%
Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) - 34.70%
Rat (Rattus norvegicus) - Adult or >50 g - 32.60%
Mouse, domestic (Mus domesticus) - Juvenile, 3-10 g - 30.10%
Rat (Rattus norvegicus) - Juvenile, 10-50 g - 27.50%
Rat (Rattus norvegicus) - Neonatal, <10 g - 23.70%
Mouse, domestic (Mus domesticus) - Adult or >10 g - 23.60%
Mouse, domestic (Mus domesticus) - Neonatal, <3 g - 17%

(ASFs and Gerbils are not in the chart)


With that being said, I don't suggest feeding anything to a Ball Python besides feeder rats, feeder mice, or ASFs. There is more to a prey item than fat content.

once again thank you very helpful site ...

[LGL]

I think one of Connie's concerns with you offering your snake a Gerbil as a "treat" is that Ball Pythons are imprint feeders, meaning that they choose one type of rodent and it is hard to get them to switch. Gerbils are sometimes used to get finicky eaters to start eating again. The problem is that it can be challenging to switch a Ball Python back to rats/mice after it has taken a Gerbil. Perhaps because of it's high percentage of fat, Ball Pythons tend to stick with them. Plus, if you do manage to switch a snake back to mice/rats after it takes a Gerbil, it may become a picky eater and occasionally refuse everything but a Gerbil. So despite giving your snake some extra fat by giving it a Gerbil as a "treat", it could potentially cause some issues with your snake in the future, not to mention the stress that switching prey items can cause your snake and your self. So simply from a saftey standpoint, I would definitely agree with Connie and recommend that you do not offer a Gerbil to your snake. Besides that, your snake wouldn't think of it as a "treat". A varied diet is not a good thing with Ball Pythons.

once again thank you very helpful site ...

You are very welcome! I just noticed that you are in Colorado. Do you ever go to the Rocky Mountain Reptile Expo?

[lillyorchid]

I think one of Connie's concerns with you offering your snake a Gerbil as a "treat" is that Ball Pythons are imprint feeders, meaning that they choose one type of rodent and it is hard to get them to switch. Gerbils are sometimes used to get finicky eaters to start eating again. The problem is that it can be challenging to switch a Ball Python back to rats/mice after it has taken a Gerbil. Perhaps because of it's high percentage of fat, Ball Pythons tend to stick with them. Plus, if you do manage to switch a snake back to mice/rats after it takes a Gerbil, it may become a picky eater and occasionally refuse everything but a Gerbil. So despite giving your snake some extra fat by giving it a Gerbil as a "treat", it could potentially cause some issues with your snake in the future, not to mention the stress that switching prey items can cause your snake and your self. So simply from a saftey standpoint, I would definitely agree with Connie and recommend that you do not offer a Gerbil to your snake. Besides that, your snake wouldn't think of it as a "treat". A varied diet is not a good thing with Ball Pythons.


You are very welcome! I just noticed that you are in Colorado. Do you ever go to the Rocky Mountain Reptile Expo?

THIS right here are words to live by. I don't think anyone else could have said it any better.

[harm286]

I think one of Connie's concerns with you offering your snake a Gerbil as a "treat" is that Ball Pythons are imprint feeders, meaning that they choose one type of rodent and it is hard to get them to switch. Gerbils are sometimes used to get finicky eaters to start eating again. The problem is that it can be challenging to switch a Ball Python back to rats/mice after it has taken a Gerbil. Perhaps because of it's high percentage of fat, Ball Pythons tend to stick with them. Plus, if you do manage to switch a snake back to mice/rats after it takes a Gerbil, it may become a picky eater and occasionally refuse everything but a Gerbil. So despite giving your snake some extra fat by giving it a Gerbil as a "treat", it could potentially cause some issues with your snake in the future, not to mention the stress that switching prey items can cause your snake and your self. So simply from a saftey standpoint, I would definitely agree with Connie and recommend that you do not offer a Gerbil to your snake. Besides that, your snake wouldn't think of it as a "treat". A varied diet is not a good thing with Ball Pythons.


You are very welcome! I just noticed that you are in Colorado. Do you ever go to the Rocky Mountain Reptile Expo?

i never have ... i would like to though ... shoot me with some info please

[harm286]

really though ... my snakes eat any rodent and so far show no signs of "stress"

[matt71915]

yeah but most likely after you feed it a gerbil it will only want gerbils. That would get expensive quick..... also if you ever wanted to sell the snake you probably wouldnt be able to even give it away

[harm286]

yeah but most likely after you feed it a gerbil it will only want gerbils. That would get expensive quick..... also if you ever wanted to sell the snake you probably wouldnt be able to even give it away

i understand your logic ... thats why im mating my gerbils
as far as my snakes though, not selling them at all nor giving them away ...
the baby's i well sell of course but yah ... i got the money im good for it (trust)

[harm286]

THIS right here are words to live by. I don't think anyone else could have said it any better.

as far as "imprinted eater's" ... hmmmm i cant think of a ball python in the wild just lookin for mice or rats ... i think it eats what it can find

[matt71915]

thats good that you dont plan on selling your snake but be prepared to breed gerbils for the next 20-30 years

make sure to not over feed, gerbils being higher in fat it would make it easier to get an obese snake. I don't think its that big of a bifference but just watch out

yes they would eat when they could in the wild..... they arent in the wild, they live in a nice warm dark tub, or tank and have a meal offered weekly.

advice for if you start breeding... dont feed any gerbils to the hatchlings that you plan to sell

[harm286]

thats good that you dont plan on selling your snake but be prepared to breed gerbils for the next 20-30 years

make sure to not over feed, gerbils being higher in fat it would make it easier to get an obese snake. I don't think its that big of a bifference but just watch out

yes they would eat when they could in the wild..... they arent in the wild, they live in a nice warm dark tub, or tank and have a meal offered weekly.

advice for if you start breeding... dont feed any gerbils to the hatchlings that you plan to sell

true lol.... and i wont. promise