Ball Python question?

Question

Which one is better for a ball python as a baby.
Rats or Mice

Answer 1

Usually you have to start with small pinkies or mice--it really depends on how big your snake is, and how much he weighs.

http://ballpython.com/page.php?topic=ballfaq#7
http://www.debscaptivebredballpythons.com/content.asp?cid=8
http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide/

Answer 2

I have many ball pythons, and in my experiences, some won't eat rats if they've only been fed mice their whole life. I have some adult females who were raised on mice only when they were younger, and now won't take rats no matter what I do. I have to give them a few adult mice at a time. I have others that had baby rats when they were younger, and they'll eat mice or rats.

For a baby ball python, mouse fuzzies and hoppers, or rat pinkies are good. Keep in mind that if you're feeding live, rodents which have their eyes open can give a good bite. Baby rodents which have their eyes still closed are harmless.

Answer 3

I bred balls and feed my babies pinkie rats starting with their very first meal. Balls can be finicky eaters, once they get used to eating mice, it can be hard to switch them to rats. So I start them off with rats. Sometimes I have to scent them with a mouse to get them to eat the rat when they are babies and just beginning to eat.
Once the python has reached adulthood, one mouse isn't an adequate meal (not to mention that adult mice can be pretty formidable, while a rat the same size is just a baby), so you would have to buy several mice everytime you feed instead of just one small to medium rat.
One rat costs much less than several mice (and mice stink).
Also, sometimes it's hard enough to get them to eat one rodent much less trying to get them to eat several.
Keep herpin',
Kirk

Answer 4

Mice -- Hopper mice. They are small and simple -- and very inexpensive.

I feed my baby Ball Hoppers and he loves them! You might try feeding twice a week, because when they are so small -- they need more food to grow. When he gets older he will be able to eat less.

Answer 5

If it is a newly hatchling, then it should be fed pinkies (baby mice) to hoppers, to weanlings depending on the size of the snake. Rats are much bigger than mice, even at birth, and smaller snakes are recommended to be fed mice, but once they reach adulthood, then you will be able to feed it young rats.

Answer 6

pinky mice

Answer 7

mice they are smaller andless likely to attack him =.#