I use the lab rat food also. It has the highest percentage of protien that I can find and I just figure it makes healthier food for my snakes to eat. I am not really sure if that matters though. I mainly use it because it helps the lactatiing mother rats and mice that I have. I breed all my own food and I haven't had any problems with my rodents. I seem to get more babies from the rodents since I switched to the block food also.