Rats vs Mice and vitamins

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Take two mice and one rat that weigh the same. The two mice have far more surface area to be covered with fur, which has no nutritional value, than the rat. The rat will have more protein for its weight. IMO rats are a better choice if your snake will take them.

Switching from mice to rats can be difficult since their odor is very different. Try rubbing a mouse on the rat, sometimes it helps. Good luck!

yeah I've heard about that..I ave 2 fuzzies at home now in a small 1/2 gallon type tank..one a fuzzy mouse the other a fuzzy rat..keeping them warm and hopefully they survive anther 4-5 days,then I'll try the rat with my black pastel. Hopefully he takes to it. But as long as he eats,I'm happy.

No vitamins needed. Whole prey has everything needed for a balanced diet.

Rats and mice of equal size have nearly identical nutritional count.

The differences are almost the same except on fat content(rats have a slightly higher fat%). You have to compare animals of the same size.
An adult mouse is not going to be the same as an adult rat. But a 10 gram mouse is going to be nearly the same as a 10 gram rat.
The only real benefits of feeding rats is that you just have to feed one rat to compared to multiple mice.
It's more of a convenience factor than higher nutritional value.


Nutrient Composition of Whole Vertebrate Prey by RodentPro:
Adult mice (>10g)
- Kcal/g =5.25
- Crude protein % =55.8
- Crude fat % =23.6

Rats (10-50g)
- kcal/g = 5.55
- Crude protein % = 56.1
- Crude fat % = 27.5

http://www.rodentpro.com/qpage_articles_03.asp

Whole prey according to the USDA(page 14 of their PDF provided below):
Adult mice (>10g)
- Kcalorie/g =5.77
- Crude protein % = 56.9
- Crude fat % = 23.5

Rats (10-50g)
- kcalorie/g = 5.67
- Crude protein % = 60.3
- Crude fat % = 26

http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/zoo/Who...nal02May29.pdf

Additional data found on a non scientific source:
Adult mice (>10g)
- kcal/g = 5.25
- Crude protein % = 55.8
- Crude fat % = 23.6

Rats (10-50g)
-kcal/g =5.55
- crude protein % =56.1
- crude fat % = 27.5

http://www.leedspetshops.co.uk/nutri...snakes-page-69

Satomi'once again,TY. Yes I heard that as well,more fat,lol..someone told me last week that rats have more fat And protein and will help my snake grow quicker