Do Ball Pythons HAVE to Eat Rats?

[Bogertophis]

Ill say it again....Though it's minor, they are not the same in terms of nutrition. Especially when feeding adult rats vs adult mice. BUT to state the point that there's no need to feed multiples of mice is logical.

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

Different fat percentages, protein, crude matter. I listened to an hour conversation about this from the person who produced my female JCP....and he happens to be the head zookeeper of reptiles at the Santa Barbara zoo. Once again, minor differences....but there are differences.

Well the thing is, ball pythons did NOT evolve eating domestic rats either...just saying. And the Santa Barbara zoo is pretty small...I went to college in S.B.

I suspect that you could likewise come up with a PERFECT diet for humans too, yet we all survive without such a thing (some better than others, yes) and no one suggests we should all eat identical food. Why is that?