Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can babies really eat rat pups? They seem too big to me. There is a significant variation in size for rat pups (27 gram) and hopper mice (9 to 10 grams) maybe I'm reading this wrong, but a meal up to 3 times the weight seems too big to me although I am under the impression that the pups are a suitable choice. I have f/t adult mice that are 25 grams and I think they are way too large for the baby rainbow babies being that they are about 4 times the snakes diameter when compressed.

So question is....buy some pups or stick with what I'm doing?

Of course I will establish feeding with live until they are started well....but I need some other rats anyway so I want to combine the order.

Any thoughts/comments?

Sunshine.. I only feed rats to my herps.. I have gotten completely away from mice. I start most of them out on rat pinkies and move up according to the growth of the particular snake.

Keep in mind that while rat pups are usually between 20 and 30 grams.. a pinkie is only 6-8 grams usually.. and fuzzies are typically from 8 grams up to about 20grams..

So, yes, it is completely possible to feed only rats.. can they start on something the size of pups? I don't think it would take something that size.. but you have to remember that a lot of people use the term "rat pup" for anything from birth until about 20 days old..
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photos.xtremecombatsports.com

I have fed rat pinkies when my mice were low, newborn BRB's can eat pinkie rats just fine. IMO better for the digestive system to have hair, keeps the stools more solid.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
10.22 BRB
10.15 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Linda,
...I have seen baby Rainbow Boas eat mice and rats that were almost as heavy as the baby snake. We probably apree that that is too large a meal for them and there is increased chance of them regurging with mega meals like that. You might see if you can find a slightly smaller baby rat and try that and see what the snake looks like after it has eaten it.
Good luck,
Jeff

>>Can babies really eat rat pups? They seem too big to me. There is a significant variation in size for rat pups (27 gram) and hopper mice (9 to 10 grams) maybe I'm reading this wrong, but a meal up to 3 times the weight seems too big to me although I am under the impression that the pups are a suitable choice. I have f/t adult mice that are 25 grams and I think they are way too large for the baby rainbow babies being that they are about 4 times the snakes diameter when compressed.
>>
>>So question is....buy some pups or stick with what I'm doing?
>>
>>Of course I will establish feeding with live until they are started well....but I need some other rats anyway so I want to combine the order.
>>
>>Any thoughts/comments?

I would have to say for nutrition, the rats are the only way to go. Even baby rats have more muscle mass then adult mice. As far as hair, that just means less to waste, the snakes cannot digest it so it is harder on them. More calories going to growth less to digestion.