Refusing to eat

[200xth]

There are definite nutritional advantages to feeding rats as opposed to mice in bp's. It's more than convenience also. First the size, of course adult rats are larger so the advantage begins there. Since the snake digestive system is inherently adapted to handle mainly one appropriately sized meal as opposed to 3 or 4 to make up for the one. Secondly, the crude protein , crude fat, calcium percentage and ash % of rats outweigh mice. Last, the gross energy of every kilocalorie per gram is more in rats than mice when referencing adult animals.

The larger rat size was the convenience factor I was referring to.

The snake digestive system is inherently adapted to handle whatever it can get. One 100g rat is not inherently better than two 50g rats.

The differences in percentages of those values are statistically meaningless between rats and mice.

There is no study showing what the requirements for ball pythons are. Without knowing the requirements, how can you say which is better, ie why is the ash % of rats over mice better?

Tons of BP's refuse to eat rats and are fed solely mice. Tons of BP's eating mice are just as healthy as the ones that eat rats.

[Albert Clark]

The larger rat size was the convenience factor I was referring to.

The snake digestive system is inherently adapted to handle whatever it can get. One 100g rat is not inherently better than two 50g rats.

The differences in percentages of those values are statistically meaningless between rats and mice.

There is no study showing what the requirements for ball pythons are. Without knowing the requirements, how can you say which is better, ie why is the ash % of rats over mice better?

Tons of BP's refuse to eat rats and are fed solely mice. Tons of BP's eating mice are just as healthy as the ones that eat rats.

Respectfully, It is written about the capability of the the bp and larger constrictors including retics, anacondas digestive system being made to handle one appropriate sized meal over many inappropriately sized ones. The differences cant be meaningless when the op question was which is better. Of course there are studies showing the requirements of bp's and most are inclusive of classes of reptiles and are weight based. When you compare mice to rats gram for gram there are nutritional differences and the rat is above the mouse. The ash percentage is better over mice bc a low ash content can be harmful and deprive an animal of essential minerals like calcium and manganese. I know bp's can thrive on mice but would you agree a bp on mice for its life is going to be a lot smaller than a bp raised on rats? This is just the little research I have found. Everyone can choose what they want to feed their animals, I am just putting a IMO out here for people to see. Thanks... Bp's who are on mice can be and should be transitioned over to rats as a process. It can be done , I've done it and most people should do it.

[200xth]

Of course there are studies showing the requirements of bp's

Can you link to one of them, please?

I know bp's can thrive on mice but would you agree a bp on mice for its life is going to be a lot smaller than a bp raised on rats?

No, I don't.

[Albert Clark]

Can you link to one of them, please? www.angelfire.com Feeding and nutrition of reptiles by Edward M. Craft. quote "As stated the information contained in this book are current at the time of it's printing. Much of this information is the result of recent veterinary and scientific studies on the nutritional needs of reptiles.

No, I don't.

O.k. then we can agree to disagree. NP.