Reptile & Amphibian Forums

what should i do? should i move up to rat pups? they are about the same girth as the average mouse ive been feeding them

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jake

my addiction:
0.0.2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1.0 amelenistic corn snake (zyklon)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven

If you read through this forum you will find post discussing this topic. Many breeders have females that feed exclusively on mice. They get up to size and breed just like rat feeders. Last year one of my mouser females gave me a clutch of 9 eggs. All were over 100 grams and they all hatched.
I think it is just easier to get them up to size on rats. Mine do seem to put on weight faster when they switch to rats. It's easier to feed one food item than 3-5. Sometimes a female will take up to 5 large adult mice. The next time she may only take 3.
If your ball will switch over and you can provide rats all the time, then make the switch. If it never switches over for you, don't worry about it. Just keep feeding it mice. It will get up to size and it will breed. As long as it's eating that's all that really matters.

Just feed them more mice if you want to feed mice. I have some that only eat mice and are doing fine. Rats are easier you only have to feed the snake one but you can feed 2-4 mice if the snake will take more.
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons
ballpythonworld.com

Me, personally, don't use mice at all.
I don't even feed my hatchling ball mice. They get pup rats from their first meal onward.
No worry about switching them over. No worry about them ever taking rats.
Last season, out of all the hatchlings I produced, I only had one that refused a rat pup. I sold that animal.
The '05's are growing nicely consuming rats.
Who needs mice?
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Ron Billingsley
www.ronbillingsleyreptiles.com