Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A lot of people come into my store and want to feed their snakes four or five mice a sitting rather than rats, either because they're convinced the snake won't eat rats, or because they think rats are cute, etc, etc. I do what I can to convince them to switch over to rats, claiming nutrional benefits. I was told this when I visited a nearby reptile store and talked to the lady who was feeding snakes at the time.
My question is: Am I right when I tell people it's better for the health of the snake to be eating rats, not mice? Especially when they're eating four or five mice at a time?

~jenny
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1.1 normal ball pythons (Cindy and Darwin)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
2.1 betta fishes (Vicious, Killer, and Butters)
3.1 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
2.0 horses (Buddy and Sam)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
2.25 chickens (Jacques the rooster and his harem)

but what I really want is more ball pythons!

I've heard rats are better too but some snakes just wont eat rats. When i feed my one female will be all s'ed up ready to strike and if i put a rat in her face she goes right back into her hide. if i put a mouse in there BANG. Rats do have a different scent and since they are larger i think tend to intimadate as well.
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Dave

www.DNReptiles.com
Myspace/DNReptiles
Myspace/blog

Not eating rats is a whole 'nother story, it's that most of the people I talk to, it hasn't even occurred to them their snake is big enough to be eating rats.
My snake went through a phase where she wouldn't eat rats, only mice, so that part I understand, it's whether or not it's more nutritious and better for the snake to be eating rats, if it's willing to.
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1.1 normal ball pythons (Cindy and Darwin)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
2.1 betta fishes (Vicious, Killer, and Butters)
3.1 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
2.0 horses (Buddy and Sam)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
2.25 chickens (Jacques the rooster and his harem)

but what I really want is more ball pythons!

Most domestic feeders have more nutrients than our snakes need to begin with - so there really isn't any nutritional benefit from feeding rats as opposed to mice the access is just waste. For breeders rats carry a higher fat content which will help raise the fat stores needed for breeding, also feeding one rat as opposed to several mice is obviously more efficient (time-wise) if you have several animals to feed. For someone that has a few pet snakes and is willing to sit there and watch 6 mice being fed off then there really isn't much benefit to switching.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

Plus 6 mice cost more than one rat. All of mine will eat rats but I start them on rat fuzzies as babies. I did buy one adult male that so far only wants mice but I will try a rat pup with him to see. I can usually switch them with patience and scenting.