Reptile & Amphibian Forums

1. Who feeds live/pre-killed/frozen thawed?
2. Who raises their own feeders?
3. Am I the only one who's noticed a direct correllation (or something close to that spelling) between feeding rats verses mice of equal size and growth rate?
How many of you prefer to feed rats verses mice?
And how many of you feed mice TO your rats?
JK

Pardon...these are not in their proper order...I must have been thinking in circles...

2.) I DO breed my own rats
1.) I feed f/t or f/k...but, I won't let a snake starve either. If it hasn't been weaned onto f/t yet or is extrememly stubborn, I may feed live, though nothing larger than a hopper rat, and usually only rat pinks/crawlers...only those that are really too young to think about or be able to bite. But, I DO wean everyone to f/t or f/k as soon as possible.
5.) I DON'T feed mice to rats...Hadn't heard of that one...I was assuming you were joking and laughed over it. Of course, if you weren't joking, I think I would have to pick my jaw up off the ground. I have fed my rats super worms, crickets, butterworms, etc. before...they seem to love to catch prey.
4.) I definately prefer feeding rats to mice. I no longer breed mice.
3.) I too have notice that snakes grow much quicker on rats. Not sure why...just know it is so.
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Delusions of Grandeur feed the EGO...

Someone told me a baby boa of theirs was regurgitating because of the rats. They thought it was because the baby rats were too fatty. They now only feed mice to their baby boas. This is just what I've heard.
Michael Burton

Dont give it a second thought,because its outright BS !!
I have cages that prove otherwise,as well as a few others that have been raised from birth on rat meat.
Heres some data for your review.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/zoo/WholePreyFinal02May29.pdf

M/

>>Someone told me a baby boa of theirs was regurgitating because of the rats. They thought it was because the baby rats were too fatty. They now only feed mice to their baby boas. This is just what I've heard.
>>Michael Burton

experiences. I've never fed any boa baby a mouse of any size. I've always started them off on pinks. Perhaps the rat he offered was too big for the baby boa or temps were too low? Golly, I don't know.
If others have had such a problem, it would be interesting hearing about it.
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Delusions of Grandeur feed the EGO...

I raise my own (mice and rats) and F/K. I feed a variety depending on the size of the snake and what I have avaialable.
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Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife
0.2 kids
4.12.136 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (OK, I'm only keeping a few of the 136, just tickled pink with my production this year)
1.1 Ball python
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)
1.0 BCI albino het stripe
1.0 BCI salmon hypo
0.1 BCI ghost

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I breed my own as well. I offer pre-killed or frozen depending what I have stocked. I also breed mice but those are only for picky eaters and small snakes(not Boas). I like rats but despise mice....evil little creatures.

i feed frozen thawed rats. im wondering if you keep a record of groth and what sort of trends you have seen. i keep records of my snakes but dont consistantly measure them, more round about estimation at random intervals.

That's something I'm just starting to do. I think this season I'll keep a couple normal type siblings back with my holdbacks and just feed them similar sized mice. It is probably the high fat content of the young rat. Seeing as most fresh boas can take at least a hopper mouse if not an adult. It may not be a spectacular scientific discovery but I believe it makes for a faster growing healthier snake if fed a normal feeding regime.

ive always found that feeding rats seems to promote growth. i just thought you had been keeping records dictating change in growth from rats and mice. maybe after i accually get ot breeding ill do some mice/rat feeding experiments.

All of my snakes will take frozen thawed or pre killed, I prefer frozen thawed, it's a LOT nicer to my wallet.. As far as mice or rats, I feed all of my boas rats, I've got some ball pythons that are strict mice eaters so far, but I've been trying to change their taste... Although I do have a pair of emerald tree boas that go from fresh killed, stunned and live.. I try as hard as I can to get them to eat at least the stunned, but sometimes only live will work, but it's always on hemostats with me keeping a close eye, and actually keeping the rat at the safest angle for a strike, sometimes it doesn't work and I'll put the hemostats between the rats jaws and the snakes flesh.. So far no war wounds. Wow, that was a nice run on sentence..
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Joe Lydon

>>1. Who feeds live/pre-killed/frozen thawed?
>>2. Who raises their own feeders?
>>3. Am I the only one who's noticed a direct correllation (or something close to that spelling) between feeding rats verses mice of equal size and growth rate?
>>How many of you prefer to feed rats verses mice?
>>And how many of you feed mice TO your rats?
>>JK

I feed either fresh killed or frozen thawed only,I figure everyone has dealt with a stubborn boa that wouldnt eat them,but with alot of patience an time alot of times the switch can be done![I.M.O]I raise most of my own food,That way I know what my boa's are eating,But theirs times I have to order!I prefer to feed rat's only because in my opinion a rat ia healthier for our boa's than a mouse is,More muscle an protien!Thanks Eric[Hypoboa]
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E&C's Exotic House of Reptiles

>>1. Who feeds live/pre-killed/frozen thawed?
>>2. Who raises their own feeders?
>>3. Am I the only one who's noticed a direct correllation (or something close to that spelling) between feeding rats verses mice of equal size and growth rate?
>>How many of you prefer to feed rats verses mice?
>>And how many of you feed mice TO your rats?
>>JK

I prefer to feed rats from the first meal on up
For those interested,(or dont have it) heres the breakdown between the two(rat/mice)

http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/zoo/WholePreyFinal02May29.pdf

M/

N/P

#1 - I feed live only.
#2 - I raise all my own rats / no mice.
#3 - I have seen in my collection that Rats pack the on weight much faster then Mice.
#4 - Since I breed rats, I only feed rats to my collection.
#5 - Ha Ha!!!

With the breeding season just starting I wish every one the best of luck!!!