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Is there any nutritional difference between mice and rats? Assuming you have the same weight animal, is there any reason to go with one or the other as a feeder?

Thanks in advance.

>> Is there any nutritional difference between mice and rats?

I've read that the rats have a slightly higher fat content. Methinks the difference is negligible.

>> Assuming you have the same weight animal, is there any reason to go with one or the other as a feeder?

In my own experience, rats are more palatable to the snakes. I've had young snakes that steadily refused fuzzy mice for months at a stretch, but then took rat pups and thrived. If you're breeding your own prey species, then rats are certainly the way to go. They're far less smelly, and they're more prolific. Also, the pups grow at a remarkable rate. Ounce for ounce, it costs far less to feed rats than it does mice. Daily ration for one adult rat is no more than three adult mice, but that rat weighs at least seven to ten times the weight of an adult mouse. A baby rat at ten days old and still nursing, weighs as much as a young adult mouse that you've been feeding for at least six weeks.

I hope that helps you,
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tricia

Yes, very helpful. Not the answer I wanted (personally don't like rats), but extremely helpful.

>>Is there any nutritional difference between mice and rats? Assuming you have the same weight animal, is there any reason to go with one or the other as a feeder?
>>
>>Thanks in advance.

Here is a link for some prey info
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/zoo/WholePreyFinal02May29.pdf

Personally the only reason to raise mice is for smaller pinks and if you had something that only took them. Otherwise rats get to size much faster. Rats are way more personable and SMELL A LOT LESS. Only down really is they take more space.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/zoo/WholePreyFinal02May29.pdf

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Sonya

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