-
Hello!
Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.
Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....
Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.
Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.
Mice or rats?
- Thread starter amanda84
- Start date
MysticExotics
(formerly NWHeather)
You're not. Everyone has their opinion, and yes, many Dr's give different advice.
I use what works well for me, based on information from friends who have been doing this a lot longer than I have.
MysticExotics
(formerly NWHeather)
If you look at the size of most Cornsnakes, and the size of rats, common sense tells you that rats are too big of prey for Cornsnakes.
I have had friends who have had snakes die way before their time, and a necropsy shows large fatty deposits, and the animal was fed rats.
I have talked with people in the Carpet Python (snakes that actually are large enough to handle rats) world who have even looked into starting to offer a variety of lower fat prey (chicks, quail) because they have lost Carpet pythons from being fed too fatty of a diet with rats.
You have to do what you feel is best for your animal(s).
I have fed weanling rats to females recovering from egg laying, but I've had much more success giving reptile vitamin supplement (injected into f/t mice) to malnourished snakes or females having a hard time recovering from egg laying. I do not give it to otherwise healthy snakes.
Proof is in the pudding, as they say.
I have had friends who have had snakes die way before their time, and a necropsy shows large fatty deposits, and the animal was fed rats.
I have talked with people in the Carpet Python (snakes that actually are large enough to handle rats) world who have even looked into starting to offer a variety of lower fat prey (chicks, quail) because they have lost Carpet pythons from being fed too fatty of a diet with rats.
You have to do what you feel is best for your animal(s).
I have fed weanling rats to females recovering from egg laying, but I've had much more success giving reptile vitamin supplement (injected into f/t mice) to malnourished snakes or females having a hard time recovering from egg laying. I do not give it to otherwise healthy snakes.
Proof is in the pudding, as they say.
MysticExotics
(formerly NWHeather)
Yes, it would be for larger snakes.
I usually keep my smaller/younger Corns and Kings on mice as babies/juvies, and periodically offer baby quail when they're adults.
I offer baby chicks (chickens) to my Carpet Pythons occasionally.
MysticExotics
(formerly NWHeather)
Sounds like he's growing well for you!
He's close to 113 grams, which is big enough for weanling mice (over 90 grams is about when most people move up to weanling mice).
How is he doing with the hopper mice?
He's close to 113 grams, which is big enough for weanling mice (over 90 grams is about when most people move up to weanling mice).
How is he doing with the hopper mice?
Really?! That's crazy!! I feel like he is doin okay with them. The first time I was freaked out. I was told they were doing pinkies and had just changed him to fuzzys when I got him from the people I got him from. That's when I learned he should have hoppers, thanks to helpful people here. So the first time I fed him a hopper I freaked out but I think he is doing good. How do I know if he is ready to handle the size change? Here are two shots of him eating a hopper.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
MysticExotics
(formerly NWHeather)
That looks like an appropriate sized meal for him.
Have you weighed the hoppers? They might be on the bigger size.
They might actually be closer to weanling size.
I use the Munson plan as a guide, but I usually wait a few grams over what it says to switch up to next size.
It's just something that can give you an idea of what size to feed your snake.
1.5 X the width of the widest part of the snake is another guide for feeding your snakes, and is helpful if you do not have a scale.
Have you weighed the hoppers? They might be on the bigger size.
They might actually be closer to weanling size.
I use the Munson plan as a guide, but I usually wait a few grams over what it says to switch up to next size.
It's just something that can give you an idea of what size to feed your snake.
1.5 X the width of the widest part of the snake is another guide for feeding your snakes, and is helpful if you do not have a scale.
MysticExotics
(formerly NWHeather)
It's not necessary, but sometimes they are labeled wrong, or if you order bulk, there may be some smaller, some larger in the bag.
I usually don't weigh the rodents, but I can usually tell by looking what category they fit into.
I do like the variable sizes in a bag, because I often have some that are not wuite ready to move up a full size, so the "in between" sizes can be fed in the meantime.
I usually don't weigh the rodents, but I can usually tell by looking what category they fit into.
I do like the variable sizes in a bag, because I often have some that are not wuite ready to move up a full size, so the "in between" sizes can be fed in the meantime.
MysticExotics
(formerly NWHeather)
It's nice to have those available.
I have a few local breeders I can go to if needed.
I have a couple small colonies of mice, mainly for day old pinks for my hatchlings, and now, one of my babies will only eat live pinks. Ugh