OK , time for my .02 :


I agree with IMO about it not really mattering which you serve up, and I read the study he posted. I raise my own mice right now, and I know they are highly nutricious for my snakes cause I feed them well. One is just not going to have more calcuim, etc that the other really. You have to think in relation to the animals body size. Ofcourse rats may have more, they are bigger! But as far as anything else.. as a buyer you dont know what the prey item was raised on or has been fed. So I took care of that and raise my own. My feeders get fed all kinds of grains, fruits, veggies, meats...etc. So I know they are healthy themsleves. Something to think about I suppose. There has always been this huge debate over what is better to feed. So with this theory that rats are better, what if you can only get mice cause your snake is so little, think about king snakes, and corns, I have never seen those eat anything but mice. And I do not believe it makes them a less healthy snake for it. Bottom line, feed prey that is proper in size for your snake. Whether it be a mouse or 2 or 3, or a rat or 2 or 3. I am sure you get the idea. But I do think this feeding debate is rediculous and confusing to alot of new herp keepers cause there are so many different opinions out there. Just read the study that IMO left and make your own judgement call. It is good to get opinions of other herp keepers, but they vary so much on stuff like feeding issues that it gets confusing and irritating. On other subjects, others opinions are wonderful and helpful and not confusing or irritating, so keep asking, thats why we are all here, but just remember, there are times when you have to look at actual scientific studies and then make a judgment call, or several opinions and make your own judgement call. There is not one right way of doing things. And every case/scenario is different.