Long term feeding, rats vs. mice

[snakelet]

Basically my question is, what is best for Lampropeltis, rats or mice? I have been buying mice, but I have 7 pet rats that I could be breeding right now, using the babies as snake food.

Does anyone know, what size/age rat babies would be about the same size as adult mice? And is the fat content a big difference?

Thanks!

Leanne

[Tim_Cranwill]

For a large adult cal king, a weaned rat would make a great meal. It could easily take the place of 2 adult mice. Depending on your supplier, the cost difference might be too large to justify... but that depends on what you're paying for feeders.

After egg-laying some of my corns, milks and kings took weaned rats. I don't think it's necessary to feed the males rats, unless you're only gong to feed them twice a month. But for females, it can be a great way to pack on the pounds after the whole breeding/laying process.

[vanderkm]

Our corns that take rats (not all accept them) are getting a rat pup (unweaned but eyes open) in place of an adult mouse. Several of my larger corns as well as most hondos and cal kings are on rats for most of their meals. They take small or extra-small rats, which correspond to 2-3 adult mice.

I had contemplated switching to rats as they became more available here, but overall am happy with a system that alternates rats and mice now.

If I was in a situation where I could breed rats, I would definately be using more of them for feeders - just nice to be able to give a single prey item instead of several and to sometimes go for a longer period of time between meals. Also nice to have control over the nutrition that goes into your prey animals.

There have been some posts on relative fat content in the past - overall younger animals (rat pup vs adult mouse) will have higher moisture content and may be slightly higher fat, from what I recall, but a quick search might bring up the actual posts. I think some variety in ration is a good idea.

mary v.

[snakelet]

Hmmm, well it sounds like I might have to make a few of these pet rats work for their keep. They already get the best food I can buy, so making them have a few babies would save me some money for sure. Especially considering I pay nearly 3 bucks for an average sized frozen mouse :mad:

Leanne