mice or rats?

[Gungirl]

I think feeding rats is easier in the long run due to the size prey needed to make a good meal for a royal. You either have to feed multiple mice or 1 rat of proper size, feeding 1 is easier than feeding multiples.

[Loucifer]

Originally Posted by omega

LOL... gross. I thought mice smelled worse than rats??? That's what someone told me anyhow.

These rats are a bit larger than the mice I have been feeding. They also came from a guy who breeds and distributes them himself, not like the factory boxed mice from big box stores. That may have something to do with it. I've also heard male rats smell worse than female. Maybe someone who knows more will chime in. Its not a horrible smell, just a bit stronger.

[Squirtle]

From experience, I'll say that rats are better. When my Albino Burmese Python was much younger, I had him on mice. When I switched him to rats, not only did his growth improve greatly, but so did his coloration, he had a lot more white than the orange and yellow he had as a hatchling. Two years later, I'm now feeding him chickens. I've noticed that his white has reduced and although he IS growing, he isn't growing too much. Starting March/end of February, I will start to feed him rabbits to see if his coloration goes back to the lovely yellow and large amounts of white as he's maxing out his length.

In conclusion, if you want your snake to grow nice and healthy and have better coloration (again, the coloration part is from my experience) then go with rats.

[Loucifer]

Originally Posted by Gungirl

I think feeding rats is easier in the long run due to the size prey needed to make a good meal for a royal. You either have to feed multiple mice or 1 rat of proper size, feeding 1 is easier than feeding multiples.

Yup! Plus, rats come in many more different sizes than mice. I appreciate a larger selection.

[omega]

Originally Posted by Squirtle

From experience, I'll say that rats are better. When my Albino Burmese Python was much younger, I had him on mice. When I switched him to rats, not only did his growth improve greatly, but so did his coloration, he had a lot more white than the orange and yellow he had as a hatchling. Two years later, I'm now feeding him chickens. I've noticed that his white has reduced and although he IS growing, he isn't growing too much. Starting March/end of February, I will start to feed him rabbits to see if his coloration goes back to the lovely yellow and large amounts of white as he's maxing out his length.

In conclusion, if you want your snake to grow nice and healthy and have better coloration (again, the coloration part is from my experience) then go with rats.

Interesting observation! I wonder what changes I might see in my Ball when I switch him over.

[omega]

Originally Posted by Loucifer

These rats are a bit larger than the mice I have been feeding. They also came from a guy who breeds and distributes them himself, not like the factory boxed mice from big box stores. That may have something to do with it. I've also heard male rats smell worse than female. Maybe someone who knows more will chime in. Its not a horrible smell, just a bit stronger.

Are they not so good from pet stores that sell them? I would like to find someone near me who breeds them.

[Corey209]

Originally Posted by omega

Are they not so good from pet stores that sell them? I would like to find someone near me who breeds them.

Some pet stores sell rats specific for breeders which are cheaper. The local "general" pet store that isn't a chain store sells their mediums for $5 but they look like a large. The local reptile shop sells theirs for $3.74.

[KORBIN5895]

The main difference between rats and mice really depends on what stage the rodent is in. An XL adult mouse will have more fat than a weaned rat which is about the same size. So if you are trying to cut down on the fat intake rats are leaner as pups and weaneds than a large or xp mouse.

Now assuming that your XL adult mouse weighs 40g and your snake eats four XL mice or one medium rat ( 85g-175g) you will get a much higher fat content out of your four XL mice.

Boas can handle fatty foods just as well as a boa but they need more exercise. No matter what you feed a boa you need to remember that a boa is semi arboreal and need more stimulation and exercise than a royal.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by omega

Interesting observation! I wonder what changes I might see in my Ball when I switch him over.

You won't see anything from food intake really change the colour of a ball python.

Burmese pythons from the post you read are generally always orange as babies and grow into the adult yellow/white. So the switch between mice to rats didn't affect it.