Adult Mouse = Rat Pup?

[AT6CL]

I'd like to try feeding my ball live and the availability of live adult mice is greater that that of rat pups. RodentPro says they weigh about the same. I understand that my ball may choose only live in the future and am ok with that. Based on my research a retired breeder mouse would be just fine for an adult BP. Using the snake's girth as a measure of reference, would this be an equal meal?

TIA
Tony

[Sausage]

I would say yes. The only problem is that some BPs have a harder time switching over to rats from mice or vice versa.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Yes adult mice = rat pups

Here is a table of comparison http://www.frozenfeeder.com/sizing.html

[AT6CL]

Got it...thanks!

[Holy Balls]

Is one more benefical than the other? Just curious.

[frankykeno]

Really the most beneficial thing, in my opinion, is a snake that is a consistent feeder with a strong response to its prey. Whether that's a rat or mouse/mice of a certain size, whether that prey is presented frozen/thawed, pre-killed or live....really in the end if the snake hits hard, every week...then you're doing it right! There seems to be little to no growth difference in ball pythons raised and feeding on mice compared to those that eat rats. I think it's more about appropriate volume of prey and consistency of feeding.

[longviewbplover]

When my ball was up to 3 mice a feeding, it was time to move her to small rats. I offered her a rat and she showed no intrest in it. I pulled the rat out put in a mouse and she nailed the mouse and ate. So I used a trick I had read about, I went to the pet store and got some good and used mouse beding and rubbed it all over the rat. I put the rat in with the snake and BAM! she took it like it was a mouse. She was so used to smelling mice and eating them that she decided that this aint a mouse cuz it dont smell like one. Well doing what I did fooled her since of smell enough that she gobbled up the rat like there was no tomorrow. When its time for her to eat again, I will just put the rat in with no mouse smell added and see what happens. If she dont take it I still have the mouse bedding ready to use again.