Rat Sizes?

[emeraldwinter]

Hey all.

So I'm FINALLY getting my bp on rats and I'm picking some up this weekend. He's been eating an adult mouse once a week and it hasn't quite filled him up the last 2 weeks (he's been moving around looking hungry a day before the next feed, which is new behaviour). I'm switching to rats and moving up in prey size instead of feeding more than one mouse at a time but I'm wondering what size of rat to get... He weighs 600g and I'm planning on getting 50-90g rats, or "small" by this breeders charts. Is that too big? Or maybe too small? I'm not sure what weight the mice were and I'm out of them now anyway.

I've heard as a general guideline to feed prey items that are as big as your bp at his thickest point. I'm always amazed at how wide his mouth and neck stretches even with the mice...but how easy is it to choke your snake?

Thanks for reading, I know I obsess over little things but I'm mostly just curious

[Skittles1101]

Small rats should be fine. You can even try weaned first if you wanted, either of those are a huge upgrade to a mouse. Don't be surprised if he doesn't take it, especially if he's been on mice his whole life. I have 2 balls that I have to scent their rats to smell like mice otherwise they won't eat Good luck!

[emeraldwinter]

Haha I love you LGray, always responding so fast to my posts Yeah I'm hoping he takes rats, he's never refused a mouse before from different breeders and different sizes...we'll see as always. And I was thinking about weanlings, thats why I was wondering if I could choke him...maybe I'll try to some of both

[Skittles1101]

LOL I type really fast, it's a blessing and a curse (lots of typos usually ). I do not think the small will harm him at all, but starting on weaned after only having mice might be a little less "traumatic" and/or "dramatic". You know how balls can be lol

[emeraldwinter]

true say lol thanks

[evan385]

You should feed him 10-15% of his body weight so I would say to feed him at least a 60 gram rat.

[iCandiBallPythons]

For a 600g animal a small rat would be fine