Switch to rats? Size comparisons plz

sassamagoo · 08-06-09, 02:28 PM

I have currently been feeding my baby boa medium size mice (f/t). They seem to be about the perfect size for him at this time.

My issue is I have read on some other threads the recommendation to switch to rats as soon as you can as some snakes can get "addicted" to mice. My problem is my 2 local pet shops don't offer rats in the small sizes. They go straight from mice to adult rats (small/med/large). I know there are some sites I can order f/t rats from but I don't know what is a good comparable size to what I'm feeding my boa now.

So the gist is: What size rat is equal to a medium mouse? Fuzzies? Weanlings?

I don't want to order 50 rat fuzzies just to find they are too big or too small. I'm sure I would be able to use them eventually, even if too big, but I don't have a ton of freezer space to waste, lol.

Thanks again in advance, everyone here is such a great help!

Sass

citysnakes · 08-06-09, 03:45 PM

if thats a pic of your boa on your head in your avatar then i think he'd be fine with rat pups.

whats his weight?

sassamagoo · 08-06-09, 09:42 PM

Yes that's a pic of my boa on my head, lol. I'm not sure of his weight as I don't have a gram scale or whatever I need to weigh him (what kind of scale would i need anyways).

Would those rat pups be called rat pups on the rodent sale sites? Or called something else? Rat weanlings? Is that the same thing?

Smilts · 08-07-09, 02:21 AM

I agree i feed mine of about that size rat pups. Also there called pups on rodent pro at least...

Chu'Wuti · 08-09-09, 08:51 AM

I use a My Weigh KD-7000. For my BP, I just set him on it. For my other snakes (currently only an HMS), I put a critter keeper on the scales, tare it (zero out the weight of the container), then put the snake in it to get the snake's weight.

Some of the mouse/rat people list weights of the different sized animals so you can easily switch from one type to another. Rat pups are younger & smaller than weanlings. (Check out the rate chart at themousefactory.com for an example)

Jamestre · 08-10-09, 04:25 PM

Mouse/Rat size chart..... - Reptile Forums UK

Good pic to show the size differences

sassamagoo · 08-11-09, 07:40 AM

Nice! That chart is exactly what I was looking for, Thanks!

Jamestre · 08-11-09, 11:59 PM

No problem glad I could help.

Chu'Wuti · 08-13-09, 02:32 PM

Note: the photos on the last link are identical to the photos from the rate chart at themousefactory.com, but the size statements (pinky mouse = x gm., etc.) are different. So it's worth checking with the source you'll be using to determine what to switch to.

Sandy