Rats or mice.. and why?

neurotic88 · 02-26-11, 11:54 AM

Hey guys.

I am curious to know if I should switch my JCP that is currently eating hoppers over to rats.

Is there any benefit from feeding rats as opposed to mice?

I already grabbed a few dozen hoppers anyways, but I am just wondering about the next time I buy feeders.

Will snakes grow faster, bigger with rats ver mice?

marvelfreak · 02-26-11, 12:01 PM

Rats have less fat. Plus the sooner you can get it switch over the easier it is to do. Some carpet are really hard to switch when they're older. I heard of people having to feed 6 plus mice to adult Jungles because they could get them to switch over to rats.

infernalis · 02-26-11, 12:05 PM

As already stated, rats have a more solid muscle structure and a lot less fatty tissues.

Our BP was on a strictly mouse diet when I first got him, It took a while, but he's on an exclusive rat diet now.

Even my corn snake is eating rat pups instead of mice.

Lankyrob · 02-26-11, 02:13 PM

Our jcp has switched to rats about three feeds ago, he is about eighteen months old. He switched easily and what we have noticed is that he isnt on the prowl looking for more straight after the feed like he was with a large mouse, just seems to be more satisfied.

Jendee · 02-26-11, 07:05 PM

rats have more calories and protein then mice. If you get an animal thats on mice then switch them to rats you'll notice a growth spurt. In fact I know alot breeders (sadly) that feed their for sale animals mice because 1) it is way cheaper 2) it keeps them small longer so they can stay in smaller tubs.
I once received a 2 yr old boa that looked half starved, I looked at the feed card this animal was still on one adult mouse a week..ggggrrr

neurotic88 · 02-27-11, 05:11 PM

Ahh okay

Well the store was good enough to let me exchange the 24 hooper mice to rat fuzzies.

I offered one to my JCP last night and he took it without any hesitation.

He was being fed 1 hopper every 2 weeks, I was thinking I would now switch him to 1 fuzzy (which is the same size as a hopper) every week since hes only 8 months old.

Jendee · 02-27-11, 06:17 PM

Sounds great!! I fed anything under 20 months every week. Then move to every 14 days. Sounds like you made a good change for your carpet.