rats or mice?

[trailblazer295]

Hey all

This is months if not a year or two off but what are you feeding adult MBKs? Are adult mice big enough or do they need to move up to rats. If so are they easy to switch? I've read they are pretty voracious eaters but can't recall if they will switch prey easily. The reason I ask is I'll be getting a juvie a MBK and would switch him/her over to pinky rats as soon as possible if needed long term. I'm just planning ahead. I realize it varies by snake as some grow bigger then others just wanted a rough idea what I should plan for.

[Minkness]

Hood question. I look forward to answers from those who have adult MBKs!

[EL Ziggy]

My female MBK turned 2 in April so she's not a fully grown adult but she's fairly well established. She's about 730g. She prefers jumbo mice but she will eat pups and weanlings intermittently. She'll also eat chicks consistently.

[trailblazer295]

That's my worry I've read with other species that if they get used to mice they don't want to switch. They get hooked like kids to candy. Hence why I'm considering switching early to avoid it.

[EL Ziggy]

I think kings can do great on mice their entire lives so there's no real need to switch them to rats. My female will eat rats but if I offer them too often she'll shut down and she'll turn it back on if I offer mice or chicks. I offer my snakes a pretty diversified diet. I think it's more interesting. They get rats, mice and chicks. It's a snake prey buffet. :)

[lady_bug87]

If you plan on feeding rats long term than better to just start with rats. Don't fuss with mice unless it's too small but even tiny it should be able to handle a rat pinky

[trailblazer295]

Not so much a plan as finding out what's needed long term.

[lady_bug87]

Gotcha. Well... that's good then. Every keeper is different. If it were me I'd probably feed rats because everything else in my collection eats rats

[trailblazer295]

Hmm good point

[Albert Clark]

I agree with EL. Variety is the spice of life. Give them a varied diet if they will take it and have a healthy animal.

[prairiepanda]

MBKs get to a size that could easily be kept on either rats or mice. Usually an adult can take two large mice or one small rat per meal, so with that in mind just shop around and see what is more readily available or affordable. You can go either way. If you choose rats, and plan to feed rats exclusively, then make the switch early and start with rats that are slightly smaller than the mice your snake is used to. Or as others have stated you can feed a varied diet throughout its life. Not everyone has easy access to wide varieties of feeders, though.

[trailblazer295]

Rats and mice are easily found locally. Chicks I'm not sure I'd have to look into it.