Color of mice

[Shauna0522]

Does it matter what color of f/t mice you buy to feed with? Is there a difference in nutritional value? I wouldn't think so but the price is different so I was just curious.

[Andy_G]

Nope. No difference.

[Shauna0522]

Nope. No difference.

Ok thank you

[Herpin' Man]

There is no difference in nutritional value between the colors. The diet of the mouse would be of greater concern.
I have heard some people claim that their snakes will only eat certain colors of mice. However, I have not personally ever found that to be the case.

[regi375]

Not at all. Most of the feeders I've seen are white due to inbreeding. While it shortens the mouse's lifespan, it has no impact on the nutritional value. Hence why most feeder supply shops don't bother to keep a diversified gene pool.

[akane]

Some say the snake might be more likely to take a colored mouse because white is just not what they evolved to see but I can't say it's a common thing anyone considers when a snake is not eating. Nutritionally there is no difference in equally bred and fed rodents of various colors so unless you are looking for some odd reason that might help a picky snake eat better the color itself has no impact.

When breeding rodents some find it fun to also range from dabbling in to working seriously with various color genetics, some double up show and feeder breeding, while others find it easier to put them down if all their meat/feeder animals are identical. I don't think they are white specifically due to inbreeding as you can inbreed any color and not get white if the gene is not there or selected for. Usually color is eliminated from a meat/feeder population on purpose. Preference, avoiding temptation to keep a color so only other qualities are concentrated on, uniform appearance to the animal being fed, for rabbits or larger animals pelts that can be dyed..... You are as likely or possibly even more likely to get poorly bred and inbred animals from colored lines because people who aren't being careful breeding often keep what looks interesting over more important things. Without color there is only more utilitarian reasons to keep an individual over another. That reason may vary though between prioritizing larger litters, temperament, size, or health and if not balanced or nothing is paid attention to you once again can get the same problems. It depends more why the breeder is breeding and how serious they are about it than anything else about their stock choices.

[Shauna0522]

Thank you all for the information it is much appreciated.