Pinky Rats V Pinky Mice

[Mangles]

I am fairly new to the reptile scene and at present only have the 1 snake being a Stimpsons Python. He is around 6 1/2 -7 months old and approxamately 45 cm long.

He is a great handler and feeder, and at present easily takes 2 pinky mice around every 8-10 days. Has never refused a feed.

I have been told to get him on to pinky rats ASAP as these are more nutritional for snakes and he will grow quicker. Is this correct?

If so will he be able to take a pinky rat at this size, and should I scent it with a mice first or just try it and see what happens the first time?

[peterescue]

It should be on larger food, fuzzy mice or even hoppers so pinky rats would be ok.

[herptrader]

I often wonder about the claims that rats are nutritionally better than mice. The may have a higher protien content, make the snake grow quicker or whatever but who is to say that the higher fur content (for example) for mice is not just as benificial for the animal... just in the same way as roughage is important for humans.

I would stick to mice, they are cheaper and a Stimpson's can be maintained on them for life. The same goes for all the other small pythons.

I try and feed carpets and other larger pythons pink rats from day one... but this is just because it saves having to wean them on to rats when they get older otherwise I would feed them mice also until they required something bigger.

[Valley Reptile Supplies]

all my snakes will readily accept rats or mice
herp treder i agree with what u r saying sorta some times u can not get full grown mice which it will need when it gets bigger
if u breed them magles it takes longer for mice to grow to full size
i breed my own rats an from the start it takes 21 days to get pinkies and an extra 17 days to get the pinky rats to full grown mouse size
and they have babies every 46 days...
mice 21 days for babies 21 days to wean then 5-6weeks or longer to grow u tell me what is easier to get...

[OuZo]

I was told rats have more calcium in them cos they have a bigger head...so more bone = more calcium

Herp Trader is correct,always go with rats if possible from day one but if its particularly small juvy chil or stim it may not be possible even if they are one day old rats.

[DaneSnakeBoy]

This is a bit off topic but do any of you know were i could get some pinky rats around newcastle i have try'da fair few places now to no luck.

Cheers
Dane

[pike1]

There would be less calcium in a pink rat than a mouse of equivalent size as pinkies of either are less calcified than older animals. pinkies generally have less nutrician and more fat. They might grow faster on rat pinkies than hopper mice , but i believe they would be healthier and less chance of fatty liver and mbd etc .Just my opinion.

[Magpie]

OK, time for me to spout off on my opinion on this.
Most people do not weigh their food items for their snakes. Some do must most don't. A 20g rat looks to be the same size as a 10g mouse due to the fur and stuff. So one of the main reason IMO that snakes "grow faster" on rats is because you are actually feeding them more.
As to the calcium.... I have never ever heard of a snake being deficient in calcium. Lizards yes, but never a snake. Any snake being fed whole mammalian prey is going to be fine in this regard. Just think how much more calcium they are getting than the rats??? Why do people worry about calcium in snakes?
Rats or mice is personal choice, believe what you wish. But there is no way known that mice have less "nutritional value" than rats. Also, Snakes can be fed rats from day one with no visible detriment.
One the subject... "nutritional value" is something I see thrown around an awful lot in regard to herp food. Can someone please define it for me as i have quite a few issues with it's use.