Most people feed their mice and rats the same food, so nutritionally they should contain around the same ratios of nutrients. I have most of my snakes on mice and I like it that way, might be switching to ASFs soon. I have adult females that will eat 5-7 mice if you let them...Mice are just as good if not better in my opinion...Dont be so quick to rush to rats esp if you don't plan to breed...Rats get big, often too big for your bp and then you have new pet ...Mice are ALWAYS edible to an adult ball..the debate is ongoing...good luck!