mice or rats?

omega · 01-27-13, 11:30 AM

So, I've done all this research and some say to start (my juvenile ball python) on rats right away. He has been eating mice up till now at the breeders. Is one or the other better? Will he eat rats if he has been raised on mice? I have a few mice that I bought when I brought him home as that is what he is used to.

Suggestions???

jarich · 01-27-13, 11:40 AM

Nutritionally, they are basically the same. The reason people say to feed rats is that rats are bigger and a single rat is a perfect size meal for an adult BP. Its mostly ease of feeding and price (1 rat equals around 8 mice or so) that gets most people feeding rats. Sometimes BPs can be selective eaters so its best to start them off right away with rats so as to avoid the possible difficulty in switching them over from mice later on. Since yours already is eating mice, its up to you when you want to switch it over.

exwizard · 01-27-13, 11:41 AM

Gram for gram, there's much more to rats than mice. I used to breed both and am very familiar with both. Nvm the fact rats get so much bigger anyway. I would switch to rats ASAP.

jarich · 01-27-13, 12:03 PM

Not wanting to propagate any big disagreement, but the difference in nutrition is insignificant Wizard. You can check out the nutritional breakdown on RodentPro's website.

mykee · 01-27-13, 12:14 PM

Yup, Jarich is correct.
Gram foir gram they are almost identical.
I love it when someone makes a statement and then actually backs it up with FACTS!
Magnificent.

omega · 01-27-13, 01:13 PM

ok, thanks... that helps. i will switch him over to rats.

Loucifer · 01-27-13, 01:25 PM

My snake has one more frozen mouse to go, then it's onto rats. According to every thing I've read, mice and rats are nutritionally pretty close. It's just the size thing. When my BP gets bigger, I'll much rather give him one small rat than a handful of mice.

omega · 01-27-13, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loucifer

My snake has one more frozen mouse to go, then it's onto rats. According to every thing I've read, mice and rats are nutritionally pretty close. It's just the size thing. When my BP gets bigger, I'll much rather give him one small rat than a handful of mice.

I agree... one is better than many in my opinion!!!

Terranaut · 01-27-13, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

Yup, Jarich is correct.
Gram foir gram they are almost identical.
I love it when someone makes a statement and then actually backs it up with FACTS!
Magnificent.

And just to add to this there is a difference nutritionaly when you compare very young or pinky rats to similar sized mice. The rats will have more fat content and less calcium as they haven't had time to develope any bone density yet. As stated akready the reason you want rats is to reduce the amount of animals to be fed and thus reduce cost. 1 jumbo rat is much cheaper than 6 adult mice in most cases.

omega · 01-27-13, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

And just to add to this there is a difference nutritionaly when you compare very young or pinky rats to similar sized mice. The rats will have more fat content and less calcium as they haven't had time to develope any bone density yet. As stated akready the reason you want rats is to reduce the amount of animals to be fed and thus reduce cost. 1 jumbo rat is much cheaper than 6 adult mice in most cases.

If rats have more fat and less calcium, is that what a ball needs?

Loucifer · 01-27-13, 08:21 PM

I just individually bagged up 40 weaned rats. Whoa, those things smell a lot stronger than the mice I've been using. Pee and popcorn come to mind...

omega · 01-27-13, 08:22 PM

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

Corey209 · 01-27-13, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omega

If rats have more fat and less calcium, is that what a ball needs?

I was always told Python's can handle fatty foods so it's best to just switch to rats as early as possible but boas aren't as good with fatty foods.

Not sure if that's true though.

omega · 01-27-13, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

I was always told Python's can handle fatty foods so it's best to just switch to rats as early as possible but boas aren't as good with fatty foods.

Not sure if that's true though.

Thanks, guess I will research it a little more.

Little Wise Owl · 01-27-13, 08:36 PM

I'm so glad this thread isn't full of people going "MICE ARE NUTRITIONALLY INFERIOR TO RATS. MICE ARE JUST SKIN AND BONES BY COMPARISON". I've heard that so many times it makes my brain melt. Kudos to you all.

I would go for rats though due to the additional size choices they come in.