Feeding mice vs rats?

[357]

I'm sure there are a billion different threads and even more opinions, but here's my take/question on it.

First, I like to live feed. I'm new to snakes but love all animals. My snake sleeps under a rock all week, his entire purpose in life is to make more snakes and eat rodents. That being said I do think all animals are rewarded for completing those tasks. I know it feels good when I catch and eat a fish, I won't even get into my personal breeding however . I feed my snake mice, usually 2-3 at a time. He is 1600g and the last owner said he ate mice 2-3 at a time as well. Of course I also follow safe practices and watch him eat, he strikes fast and sure every time and a few times the strike itself appeared to break the spine of the mouse before he even constricted it.

I want to swap to rats for 2 reasons. 1) They're bigger so I don't have to have so many on hand, which is important as I want more snakes in the future and 3x? can get ugly each week. 2) Rat urine doesn't smell half as bad as mice, mice are gross. Rats are cleaner and as a result easier to breed in my limited space in the basement.

My issue is I want to live feed and I understand the dangers of the rodent biting my snake. I know mice can hurt him but I'm certain a bigger rat would do more damage even faster. I want to allow him to be as natural and happy as possible while still minimizing his exposure to danger.

What do you think? Swap to rats or keep feeding mice?

If you say mice, any ideas on how to house that many in a colony? And are there any dangers feeding wild caught mice to him? My friends and family have more than a few in barns in the area.

[mackynz]

I would go with rats, I personally feed f/t, but if you go live just make sure to watch until the rat is dead.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Never feed wild caught rodents you have no clue what they could have gotten into (poison, parasites, etc.)

I would switch to rats. It doesn't matter what you are feeding anything with a mouth can bite. You shouldn't ever leave a live rodent with a BP unattended.

[crepers86]

I am going to say switch to rats. better nutriants then the mice. 1600 grams? I had a 1300 gram that was eating a medium rat every two weeks... She probly could of even took a large rat. It seems that the even three adult mice would be two small for your snake.

Feeding live... as long as you understand the risk. I personaly want safety for my animals? but I had a couple that just wouldn't take f/t

[357]

Never feed wild caught rodents you have no clue what they could have gotten into (poison, parasites, etc.)

I would switch to rats. It doesn't matter what you are feeding anything with a mouth can bite. You shouldn't ever leave a live rodent with a BP unattended.

Good call on the wild rodents, I was more worried about parasites but poisons are a good call for sure. Could the same be said for pet-store rats? I know they get shots from vets.

Also, can he really eat a full grown rat? He's 3.5-4ft and 1600g ... the rats at petsmart looked huge, are there different species I can find to breed that may be smaller or better suited?

[The Serpent Merchant]

You don't want to buy the rats from petsmart, not only are they ridiculously overpriced, but they don't come in the various sizes required. You need to find a source of feeder rodents.

I buy mine online from a site called rodent pro I save $250-$300 over a 6 month period buying my rodents from Rodent Pro:

http://www.rodentpro.com/

If you are really wanting to stick with live you are going to need to either find a local rodent breeder or a reptile shop that sells feeder rodents.

A BP can't eat full grown rats but smalls-medium rats are a staple of most BP's diets.

[357]

You don't want to buy the rats from petsmart, not only are they ridiculously overpriced, but they don't come in the various sizes required. You need to find a source of feeder rodents.

I buy mine online from a site called rodent pro I save $250-$300 over a 6 month period buying my rodents from Rodent Pro:

http://www.rodentpro.com/

If you are really wanting to stick with live you are going to need to either find a local rodent breeder or a reptile shop that sells feeder rodents.

A BP can't eat full grown rats but smalls-medium rats are a staple of most BP's diets.

This is what I hate about BP's too many conflicting statements. I was told 15% of body weight, thats 225-240g. That is a large rat, so how can it be that he can't eat one?

If he can't eat an adult rat is there any harm in feeding multiple mice? I want to breed my own, no breeders within an hour of my house and I enjoy doing as much myself as I can.

And are their different breeds of rodents that would be 200g~ at adult weight and easy to colonize?

[The Serpent Merchant]

the 15% rule works really well with hatchling BP's but not so well with adults. They don't need as much food once that have stopped growing.

Large rats can be up to 600 grams... certainly too big.

[AdamF]

Good call on the wild rodents, I was more worried about parasites but poisons are a good call for sure. Could the same be said for pet-store rats? I know they get shots from vets.

Also, can he really eat a full grown rat? He's 3.5-4ft and 1600g ... the rats at petsmart looked huge, are there different species I can find to breed that may be smaller or better suited?

A BP can easily eat a rat 1.5x the size of the largest part of his body. 2x for sure if FT. The live vs FT thing comes down to 3 things:

1) What will snake eat?
2) What is safest?
3) what is cheapest/time efficient?

I know most big breeders feed live. Can you imagine having to defrost 50-100 rodents at every feed? And then re freezing/throwing out any rejected ones? But they also breed the feeders, and have that part down to a science.

With my 5 snake "collection" I have no trouble defrosting 5 at a time, and can rest ez nobody will get hurt during feeding.

[357]

the 15% rule works really well with hatchling BP's but not so well with adults. They don't need as much food once that have stopped growing.

Large rats can be up to 600 grams... certainly too big.

Any idea on the 3mice? Will it hurt him at all?