Time to start on rats..

[the_mechanic]

Alright.. I've had my ball for around a year now, and she's getting pretty big. She's 35 inches according to the Snake Measurer, which is awesome, by the way.

Today at the pet store they had small rats, which are about the same size as she is in girth, but I decided on mice just to be on the safe side.

Now, I've tried feeding prekilled, and frozen/thawed mice numerous times with no success. I don't know if I should feed her a live rat, or if I should just stun it, or what... Anyone have any advice?
Thanks

[kavmon]

if the snake is used to eating live rodents, i don't see a problem. make sure the rat isn't too big. i prescent the air in my room with rats until everyone is awake and alert 15-20 mins. if the snake isn't used to live feedings you may want to stick with what you were doing only increasing the size a bit.


vaughn

[Adam_Wysocki]

Why would you think it's time for rats? If she's doing fine on mice, why switch?

I like to think that ... if it ain't broke don't try and fix it.

-adam

[the_mechanic]

I always just thought that it was healthy to switch to rats because they have more fat and protein for growing. Also some people believe feeding one big food item is better than multiple smaller ones... but hey, i'm no expert
do you think feeding 2 or 3 small mice per week is fine?

[Adam_Wysocki]

I have a bunch of adult ball pythons that get anywhere from 1 - 3 mice per week and they are all healthy as can be.

Here are my thoughts (and are in no way meant to offend) ....

I always just thought that it was healthy to switch to rats because they have more fat and protein for growing.

How much fat and protein does a ball python need in a week? Without knowing, who's to say that a rat with higher fat or protein content is "better" than a mouse. To my knowledge there is no study anywhere that analyzes the nutritional requirements of a ball python, so therefore no one in the world knows for sure that feeding rats does any better than feeding mice.

Here's an example of what I'm saying .... if an adult mouse has 4 grams of fat and 3 grams of protein and a small rat has 8 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein (these numbers are hypothetical) ... what if I told you that a ball python, fed weekly, only needs 2 grams of fat and 1 gram of protein to be perfectly healthy and anything additional will get passed out of it's body? Kind of makes the whole rats vs. mice point moot right? Well since nobody knows what a ball python needs, who's to say what’s "right"?

Also some people believe feeding one big food item is better than multiple smaller ones

I've done it both ways ... I'd guess about 5 years feeding large food items and the last 5 doing small small food items ... I have 10 years of data that shows my ball pythons are feeding more consistently and regaining weight after oviposition better with smaller food items than with large ... Once of these days I'll have to get all of my index cards into the computer!!!

As someone that knows a little bit about these animals, I can say that you'll be fine either way ... I was just pointing out that you shouldn't feel like you "have to" switch to rats because of what I believe are a lot of "myths" that are floating around on the internet about what's best for ball pythons. IMHO most of them are cr@p.

-adam

[Ken]

Adam,

Why do you insist on clouding threads like these with logical thought and empirical evidence? What's your deal, man? : )

Thanks for bringing your voice of reason and experience to the boards.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Adam,

Why do you insist on clouding threads like these with logical thought and empirical evidence? What's your deal, man? : )

Thanks for bringing your voice of reason and experience to the boards.

LOL ... It's just the way I am ... I never accept any answer "just because" .... I've always been a pain in the a$$.

-adam

[RWillinnable]

Adam, I would love to learn how you decide what to feed your BP's. I honestly don't care what I feed my little man, I just want him to feel healthy. Also, how do you feel about alternating feeding durations and size of meals? I have heard that this might be healthier for them, but then again, I got that information off the internet, so who knows. And I just want to say that the live feeding is still going spledidly. My little guy is a champion feeder so far.

Rachel, who is crossing her fingers on the hope that little Shahrazad maintains his glutenous ways.

[Kizerk]

adam i have a question

when u feed them 1-3 mice a week, do you feed them all 3 mice at the same time?

[tigerlily]

I usually feed multiples to my one girl. I usually offer the first and wait for her to get it down. Usually that's about 15-20mins or so. Once I see it's down and she's set for the next one, I offer it. I never throw all the food in the cage at once. Sometimes she looks ready for more, and other times she slinks off to her hide. Then no handling for 48 hours.