Once easy-to-feed BP on a feeding strike? - Page 3

Chu'Wuti · 12-14-08, 06:00 PM

QUOTE]Did I mention I hate mice?.....
[/QUOTE]

Uh, yes, I forgot that part--

!

And I don't blame you for not wanting to feed 5-10 F/T mice at a time!

OK, is this the time to say don't worry yet?

mykee · 12-14-08, 09:30 PM

Don't worry yet.

Chu'Wuti · 12-15-08, 04:07 AM

Geez, Aaron_S, seems like we're passing your own advice back to you . . .

Well, you probably aren't all that worried at this point anyway, right? ;-)

Thanks for confirming my feelings, Mykee!

siz · 12-15-08, 09:05 AM

So, is it better to feed rats than mice? My BP is just over a foot and a half long and roughly and inch and a half wide, I've been feeding mostly live mice, would you recommend I switch to rats, and if so, when would be appropriate?

mykee · 12-15-08, 01:01 PM

It's ALWAYS without exception better to feed rats than mice. All my balls get a live mouse to start their eating lives, and then rats...forever.

citysnakes · 12-15-08, 01:03 PM

as was already said, there are nutritional differences between rats and mice but one is not necessarily "better" to feed than the other. they both have pros and cons depending on your situation. i would think many people choose rats over mice because of the convenience of offering a single appropriately sized meal but there are people out there who exclusively feed their ball pythons mice and their snakes are just as healthy and happy as all of ours that eat rats.

siz, if you want to switch to rats then now would be just as good a time as any other.

**Aaron_S** · 12-15-08, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citysnakes.com

...but there are people out there who exclusively feed their ball pythons mice and their snakes are just as healthy and happy as all of ours that eat rats.

Unless these people are feeding their snakes easily 10 mice per feeding, then they aren't as healthy as a snake eating rats. If the snake isn't growing like it should, then there's obviously a problem, if it's an owner feeding their snake solely mice (and not enough of them) that would stand out to me as something to change.

citysnakes · 12-15-08, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Unless these people are feeding their snakes easily 10 mice per feeding, then they aren't as healthy as a snake eating rats. If the snake isn't growing like it should, then there's obviously a problem, if it's an owner feeding their snake solely mice (and not enough of them) that would stand out to me as something to change.

i agree that if the snake is underfed, not growing properly and is unhealthy then there is a problem but this can happen no matter what the snake is being fed. like i said, their ball pythons are just as healthy feeding on mice as yours and mine are feeding on rats. the snakes are growing properly, are healthy and are breeding so what is the problem?

**Aaron_S** · 12-15-08, 08:24 PM

Nothing then. I said they'd be fine if they ate enough mice. Most people who feed snakes only mice usually feed way less of them.

siz · 12-16-08, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citysnakes.com

siz, if you want to switch to rats then now would be just as good a time as any other.

Thanks

Out of curiousity, what are some other advantages of feeding rats besides the nutritional value?

mykee · 12-16-08, 10:23 AM

Siz, isn't that enough?

Chu'Wuti · 12-16-08, 11:02 AM

This nutritional value difference is driving me crazy. My DH suggests it's because if one has to feed several mice, the surface area (hair area) that contains fewer nutrients is much larger compared to the high value interior, while with a single rat, the surface area of lower nutritional value is less compared to the interior/high nutritional value portion. I guess that makes sense.

OK. Guess I'd better try again to get my BP to switch. I just need to find some smaller, tenderer rats . . .

**Aaron_S** · 12-16-08, 02:44 PM

I'll try here Siz.

Feeding rats is just better.

citysnakes · 12-16-08, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Feeding rats is just better.

why?

**Aaron_S** · 12-16-08, 04:47 PM

Has the whole nutritional value not been mentioned?

Other than that (which SHOULD be the #1 concern regarding your pet) it's largely a convenience thing. It's easier to feed one rat than 10 mice. Or as added, cost effective. 5 adult mice will on average, cost more than a single rat. Besides I much rather feed my adult male a nice sized rat every 14 days then feed him 20 mice every 14 days.