Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is one better than the other? Only thing I have seen is that rats have a higher meat:bone ratio than mice, but seems to me a lower meat:bone ratio might be beneficial for an ovulating snake because of the extra calcium.

I was thinking of maybe breeding rodents for my snakes (only 2 now, but planning on getting 2 more shortly). Personally I find mice less threatening than rats and the smaller size is preferable as well. If a snake eats a mouse right away is there need to pre-kill the mouse? One reason I would like to have some mice around is for when my snakes refuse food. It really kills me to throw away a f/t rat/money. Whereas if the snake refuses a live mouse I could just toss it back in it's cage and wait a week.

I'm also a fan of animals in general (actually in veterinary school) and wouldn't mind watching the raising of pups, one reason I want to breed some pythons.

I've heard arguments for either one and here is what works for me...

My hatchling balls eat mice if I don't have rat pups.
As soon as I can, I switch them to rat pups.

That's pretty much it. I'm lucky in that I haven't had a baby not switch, and all of my babies have taken mice if I had no rat pups and rat pups when I have them.

I feed live. Most of my snakes snag them right away. Some of them don't when I am around, so I leave the room for 10 minutes and come back. That usually does it and they eat them. If they don't, I take them out and try again in a few days.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

Yes rats are better they have more meat on there bones.Thats more protein for the snake.Let me tell you storys about mice,ive seen snakes with holes in there tails from being bit.They are mean as hell.Ive seen them rip a snake up while be left in tank just minutes,these are all snakes ive seen from people bringing them to me to patch up.I raise rodents 10 mice colonys of 1-10 and 45 colonys of rats 1-4 so ive seen what they can do.Ill feed rats anytime rat crawlers do no damage to snakes,but hoppers will still bit.Hope this helps.
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