Looking for reptiles by...food source?

[Paleosinensis]

I know this is a bit unorthodox, but how would I go about researching a reptile that eats a very specific size rodent on a more-frequent-than-snakes basis? I'm working on genetic improvements with my rats and so cull frequently, but due to a lot of stressful events that aren't abaiting I am considering slimming down my snakes to just my 10 year old ball python girl and 3 year one-eyed boa. That leaves the challenge of making sure pinks, fuzzies, weanlings, and occasionally small rats don't go to waste.

Is there something that would eat these regularly while still living in a 3x2 or 4x2 footprint? I'm trying to avoid the hassle of selling off frozen culls and can't stand waste.

[piedlover79]

Hard to find something that would be interested in a pinkie as well as a small rat. However I'd say a male hognose for pinkies and fuzzies, and a female hognose for weanlings would work. Then the ball python can have the small rats (nothing wrong with a smaller meal now and then as long as it's big enough to get their attention). Hognose are awesome and eat like trash cans, mine feed every three to four days and would be probably happy to eat more.

[bcr229]

Savu python - my adult female will hit anything and a 3x2 enclosure is plenty big.

[enginee837]

Pac man frog or a large tarantula. Possibly a tokay gecko as well. You want something that is happy eating 1 large meal or multiple small meals. You may have a hard time finding a snake that will do this.

[Paleosinensis]

So how is the metabolism on hognoses? Should I expect them to eat an appropriately sized (or smaller) meal every 3 or 4 days throughout their lives? I've been kind of frustrated with locally available colubrids (high strung), but haven't considered a hognose. I need to go read up on their temperament.

[enginee837]

Savu python - my adult female will hit anything and a 3x2 enclosure is plenty big.

Savu pythons are gorgeous and make an excellent addition to any collection. If they eat like that I would highly recommend as well.

[AbsoluteApril]

How about a Corn or King snake. Mine get their normal meal (f/t mouse) but will happily take any leftovers that my others don't eat (or if I thaw out one too many which happens sometimes). Feeder size range anywhere from mouse pink to weaned rat. Colubrids aren't too picky when it comes to size and can take multiple items. Good little garbage disposals that are easy to care for and don't take up much space, plus they are rather cute little snakes IMO


edit to add - my corn is more laid back than the king which can be a little high strung sometimes

[Paleosinensis]

I have to be careful what colubrids I bring home; I live in Georgia where they still see fit to criminalize ownership of native reptiles which locks out a LOT of common reptiles in the hobby. >_<;

[Stewart_Reptiles]

So how is the metabolism on hognoses? Should I expect them to eat an appropriately sized (or smaller) meal every 3 or 4 days throughout their lives? I've been kind of frustrated with locally available colubrids (high strung), but haven't considered a hognose. I need to go read up on their temperament.

Hognose have a great feeding response however they do better on mice, an adult female will eat an adult mouse, but while she can also eat a rat pup those have a higher fat content and lower calcium content and with that species you have to worry about fatty liver disease.

I breed hogs and rats are only offered for few weeks after my females lay and that's it.

[piedlover79]

Deb is right, I feed mice...when I read pinkie I automatically think mice not rats!!