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Why Rats??

davidag02 Mar 15, 2004 11:28 AM

Hey everyone... I've seen many sites suggesting rats as the "ulitimate" feeder choice for boas. However, none of them say WHY they are the best feeder?

What makes them better than mice?
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David - Houston, TX
Young Red Tail Boa
Purchased 11/16/03
www.geocities.com/davidag02

Replies (2)

Bill S. Mar 15, 2004 11:43 AM

Mice are good in the beginning, but boas soon grow large and need bigger food items. Rats are economical especially when purchased frozen, and they get pretty big so you'll always have appropriate-sized meals for your boa.

When a boa is young mice work well, but some boas can be reluctant to switch over to rats. This is why folks often get young boas onto rat pups ASAP. Can you imaging having to feed a "mouse-only" large boa 15 - 20 mice each time? Or more? Not good!

Bill

Brian Oakley Mar 15, 2004 12:12 PM

There is more "meat" on a rat than on a mouse. This way you are giving your snake more nutrients with each one it eats.
I don't feed mice no matter how old the snake is. I start my newborn boas on rat pinks...........UNLESS there is an abnormally small boa, but even then it could take a rat pink.
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Brian Oakley
Phoenix, Arizona
BrianOakley@cox.net

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