Just curious what other people did

[Elise.m]

Snickets is at a whopping 250g now, putting on weight like no tomorrow and eating every meal I give her. I'm about to convert her to rats, so since the meal size will slightly be going up, I was wondering how often I should offer.

Last night my BF and I were discussing it, and I told him that I would post a thread to get some more input. Right now she's on a 5 day mouse schedule. I'll try to switch her to rats this Friday, they'll be "Small" sized rats, should I still go every 5 days, or should I wait every 7? Or, possibly even see if she'll convert to rats for me, then think about it then?

I'm going to rub the rat against a mouse before I offer it to her, I had a breeder tell me that it's worked 100% of the time for him.

[syvil]

How old is she? My guy is about 6-7 mos right now and 270g I had him on fuzzy's when I first got him then moved him up to a fuzzy and an adult mouse for a few weeks now he's on 2 adult mice a week and I'll be moving him up to 3 adult mice next week. He had no problem switching to the adult mice however I feed him what he was already eating then offered the adult mouse second and he had no issues taking it down. Hope this helps

[rabernet]

At her age, she'll likely take the rat with no pre-scenting with the mouse. Babies with good feed response will take most anything that you offer them.

To your question, I feed babies every 5 days until they start to refuse every 5 days (regardless of what they are eating), then I move them to an every 7 day schedule.

[twistedtails]

IMO I would convert your snakes to rats as soon as possible. They have much more nutrients than a little mouse. I fed all my babies that I have aquired rats since thier first meal. I've seen as much as 80-100 grams of growth a month. I also feed every 5 days one to two crawlers. I will continue to do this until they can take a small rat, then I will probably back down to a small rat every 7 days. Some might call my methods power feeding or over feeding, but, it works for me.

[Elise.m]

At her age, she'll likely take the rat with no pre-scenting with the mouse. Babies with good feed response will take most anything that you offer them.

To your question, I feed babies every 5 days until they start to refuse every 5 days (regardless of what they are eating), then I move them to an every 7 day schedule.

Thanks! I have this thing with thinking everything that can go wrong, will go wrong and I'm always wanted to be prepared for it. Even if it's a low chance

When you switch to the every 7, do you wait 7 days after the offer, or two days?

IMO I would convert your snakes to rats as soon as possible. They have much more nutrients than a little mouse. I fed all my babies that I have aquired rats since thier first meal. I've seen as much as 80-100 grams of growth a month. I also feed every 5 days one to two crawlers. I will continue to do this until they can take a small rat, then I will probably back down to a small rat every 7 days. Some might call my methods power feeding or over feeding, but, it works for me.

I personally don't believe the whole nutrients argument since it's never been scientifically proven, but I'm switching her to rats cuz adult mice aren't always readily available.

[seeya205]

I personally don't believe the whole nutrients argument since it's never been scientifically proven, but I'm switching her to rats cuz adult mice aren't always readily available.

They do have more body fat and they do come in larger sizes so you only need one item which would be less stressful! Either one will give you a healthy snake! Choose the one you can get the easiest and constantly!

[twistedtails]

It doesn't take a scientist to tell that a rat has more fat, meat and bone than a mouse does.

[Danounet]

The only thing I can say that hasnt been said already is that becareful with the size of "small" rats. Some small rats are bigger than mice, and different stores seem to sell them at different sizes. I feed my yearling a small rat. and the younger snakes I try to get the smallest small rat possible. Maybe start out with a rat puppy, If there is any private reptile/exotic stores around you, they probably have rat pups for sale.

I do have to say that young rats seem much less dangerous and agressive than adult mice. Ive been bit twice by feeder adult mice already, young rats dont seem to care much for bitting or bitting back.

I dont agree with the nutrients argument either since we dont know what BPs need for nutricion. And yes ofcourse rats are bigger and so on... but bigger isnt always better. You have to be careful with over feeding, specialy since hatchlings/young snakes will eat anything you give to them at any time. Fat snakes are not attractive, not to me anyways, and SPECIALY not healthy.

[Eventide]

It doesn't take a scientist to tell that a rat has more fat, meat and bone than a mouse does.

Well, yes, but that's feeding one rat vs. feeding one mouse. How does one rat compare with two or three mice?

[mainbutter]

Last night my BF and I were discussing it, and I told him that I would post a thread to get some more input. Right now she's on a 5 day mouse schedule. I'll try to switch her to rats this Friday, they'll be "Small" sized rats, should I still go every 5 days, or should I wait every 7? Or, possibly even see if she'll convert to rats for me, then think about it then?

I keep BPs on 5 day schedules until 600 grams or so, feeding one appropriately sized feeder per meal.

A 'small rat' might be bigger than what I'd consider appropriate for a 250g BP, but then again, it might be just right, as I've seen plenty of variation in 'small' rats.