rats vs mice?

[Minkness]

Yup! Another feeding question!

I appreciate ya'll's patients with me!

So, my girl will currently take 2-3 mouse pinks in a single go with little to no buldge in her middle when she's done. This is after only 2 feedings of mouse pinks.

I have read around here about how 1 big meal is better for the snake, money, and time. I want to try to get some freezer space so I can make an online order and just store them.

I have questions first though!

Is there a noticeable difference in nutrition between mice and rats or growth stages? I know that pinks, fuzzies, and pups are still on milk, while weaned on up will be on a solid diet. Does this play a part?

I may want to look at getting rat pinks and fuzzies, but if older animals have better nutrition then I want to just get larger mice, ect.

Until I win the freezer space and have the knowledge of the 'best' feeders, I must resort to petco and petsmart frozen feeders. =(

[Cmwells90]

This: Nutrition Feeder Mice | Nutrient Composition of Feeder Animals (http://www.rodentpro.com/qpage_articles_03.asp)

I've heard to stay on Mice for as long as possible because they are more lean, and make the switch to rats only if the animal will end up eating rats as an adult.

[kwhitlock]

certain species I've read it's better to do multiple smaller feedings over 1 big meal. Don't think that will apply to you however. But normally yes 1 bigger meal overal is better then multiple smaller ones.

[Cmwells90]

Also Mink, just because your MBK will take 3 mice, doesn't mean he needs them. Most snakes are oppurtunistic and will take food even if they're not hungry. I'd stick with offering 1 prey item that's 1 1/2x larger than your MBK's girth, but I've never had an MBK so if someone has a different opinion I'd like to hear it!

[Minkness]

I only feed her 2 right now and she inhales them and doesn't show a buldge, so I'm looking to up the size in the next few feeds. I just want to make the wisest choice possible.

Also, thanks for the nutrition link! <3

[drumcrush]

I agree staying on mice but until it gets to the point to where you are feeding multiple adult mice. My MBK is feeding on small rats right now. One small rat is about equivalent to about 2-3 adult mice

[EL Ziggy]

I don't know of any nutritional advantages between mice & rats. I agree with the others, most kings can stay on mice their entire lives but if they're eating multiple (3 or more) adult mice than rats may be your best bet. My kings will usually only eat 1 or 2 large or jumbo mice per feeding so I keep them on mice They've had rat pups and rat weaners before but they both went off feed so I went back to mice. My bulls have only eaten rats. It would take too many mice to feed them as adults.

[Minkness]

Ah, good to know! I may rotate rats every few feedings to make sure she accepts it then, and as a bit of a treat lol. I'm looking to move her up to large pinks here soon, if not fuzzies. What is a good comparable rat size to mouse fuzzies?

[Cmwells90]

I think rat pinkies are the same size if not a little bigger than mice fuzz.

[Minkness]

Cool. I won't start her right away but it's good info to keep in my pocket for when she ups the size of her feeder. =)

Also, other than time and cost, are there drawbacks to feeding multiple feeders instead of just one big one?

[Cmwells90]

Not that I've ever heard. It's really just preference. The only thing I would say about both feeding methods is be careful you don't over feed (power feed) because it can shorten the snakes life, or that's what I hear!

[Minkness]

Well, for her size she's eating 2 small pinks every 3-5 days. If I can find Either larger pinks or small fuzzies I'll feed 1 per every 3-5 days, then as she needs larger fuzzies every 5-7, ect. I deff don't want to over feed her but Ill go crazy if I feed her only once every 2 weeks when she's still so little lol. Last weight was 22 grams. I'll have an updated weight either tonight or tomorrow. =)

[Cmwells90]

oh yea, you should be feeding about every 3-5/5-7 days, but babies always eat more frequently!

[Minkness]

^_^

I'm trying my best without going over board lol.

I am even doing gradual tank size increases as well to lower the possibility of stressing from too much open space lol.

Being an only child gives her all the opportunity to be spoiled rotten lol. At least until she gets a brother XD.

Then I can rotate who gets handled and not pester either 1 too often lol.