Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been over different threads and different internet websites, and all it ever says is "Feed your mice a good diet" well what is that diet?

Right now I am using lab blocks.

So what do you feed your breeder mice?
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 1.0 western hognose

I use wheat, whole oats, corn or corn chops, wild bird seed, rabbit chow, and some dog food (Ol Roy) and mix it together in equal parts except for the dog food. The rats get the same except sometimes they get the occassional leftover pizza crusts that the kids don't want. LOL!!

>>I have been over different threads and different internet websites, and all it ever says is "Feed your mice a good diet" well what is that diet?
>>
>>Right now I am using lab blocks.
>>
>>So what do you feed your breeder mice?
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>>1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 1.0 western hognose

Realistically my mice get....
Oat, corn and sunflower mix with leftover parrot and parrakeet mix too....so some millet, pumpkin seed and kibble (that my CAG is off eating right now) Every night. Most of the time they also are now getting cat kibble. I tried dog food but they really weren't eating much of it. They also get, more occasionally, parrot kibble...like roudybush (rarely) or Pretty Bird leftovers. (the birdfood is kinda low percents so is a 'treat')Cat food every night when they are hugely pregnant or have huge litters. I also tend to feed oatmeal or cheerios or other stale breakfast cereal more when there are babies weaning. Couple four times a week they get greens (romaine) or peas or green beans or apple, cooked or raw pasta or cooked rice.

Rats get similar but with less seed (they don't eat the oats but love the corn and sunflower)and dog food instead of cat.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Cant you just feed them the Hampster / Gerbil mix you can get at places like Petco? It seems like it has all the stuff you mentioned minus maybe the cat or dog food. Honestly, i dont know, as i dont raise my own feeders, but i may start, and that is what i was going to feed.... is that good enough? It seems reasonably priced all in all....

I would, but most hamster diets have red dye in it. Which will build up in mice/rats and end up in the snake. I've heard it can kill the snake/mice/rats. I don't know for sure. But I would rather be safe than with a dead snake.

As I said I found a horse chow that almost matchs the mouse lab block we get, I am thinking about getting that for both the mice/rats and supplementing the rats with meat once a week or so.
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 1.0 western hognose

>>Cant you just feed them the Hampster / Gerbil mix you can get at places like Petco? It seems like it has all the stuff you mentioned minus maybe the cat or dog food. Honestly, i dont know, as i dont raise my own feeders, but i may start, and that is what i was going to feed.... is that good enough? It seems reasonably priced all in all....

Feeding just the seed mix is likely gonna result in pups that grow poorly and cannabalism.....too low of percents. Hamster/Gerbil mix is okay for desert dwellers...like Hamsters and Gerbils. Or, it would probably be okay for a pet, not a breeder, or for growing out feeders.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron