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 #2096297


Imacrabbyshark
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 Recommended size of feed for baby

Just wondering if a 2 or 3 month old blood python could take a small rat. I am having trouble finding a source of live rat pups in my area and I heard that rats are better than mice. I feed my adult snakes pre-killed or frozen but this baby is not taking killed yet. I can feed him large mice but I would like to get him on rats as soon as possible. Does anyone have any experience with feeding small rats to babies and were there any problems?
11/17/09  04:41pm

 #2096433


Catfish_82
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   Message To: Imacrabbyshark   In reference to Message Id: 2096297


 Recommended size of feed for baby

I think what passes as a small rat might be a bit large for a baby blood. Something about 35 grams or so would probably be good. You might be able to trick your blood into accepting F/T by heating a prekilled rat in hot water and then leaving it in his hide.



11/18/09  12:29am

 #2100886


Isabela
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   Message To: Catfish_82   In reference to Message Id: 2096433


 Recommended size of feed for baby

Rats give no nutritional value over mice. I’d stick with mice until he can handle small rats.

I was recently told that my couple month old Borneo could handle weaned rats and the small rats I have in my freezer are WAY too big for him.

Dennis
12/02/09  05:23pm

 #2101471


Catfish_82
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   Message To: Isabela   In reference to Message Id: 2100886


 Recommended size of feed for baby

Quote:

I’d stick with mice until he can handle small rats.



The problem with going the mouse to rat path is that some bloods have a difficult transition, and you’re going to have feeding problems. It’s actually much less worrisome to start them off on what they’ll be eating for the rest of their lives.



12/04/09  01:51pm

 #2101530


Isabela
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   Message To: Catfish_82   In reference to Message Id: 2101471


 Recommended size of feed for baby

Quote:

The problem with going the mouse to rat path is that some bloods have a difficult transition, and you’re going to have feeding problems. It’s actually much less worrisome to start them off on what they’ll be eating for the rest of their lives.


I agree about the transition thing, but small rats are just too large for a young blood. The small rats I have absolutely dwarf the 4-5 month old blood I have. I’d much rather do the transition down the road than risk overfeeding or causing a regurgitation.

Dennis
12/04/09  05:25pm

 #2101607


Imacrabbyshark
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   Message To: Isabela   In reference to Message Id: 2101530


 Recommended size of feed for baby

Thanks for the input. I have fed 2 weanling rats over the past two weeks. He had some difficulty taking it, but he has not regurgitated or anything so I think I will be okay for now. I do want to a void a possible aversion to rats if he gets used to mice so I want to stick to rats. I am going to try to get him on pre-killed and then frozen so I will be able to feed him rat pups which are a more appropriate size. I will try a pre-killed weanling next week and hopefully he will take it. He seems to be scared of the live baby rats - the only way he strikes and constricts is if we put the rat a few inches in front of him and the rat holds still. Otherwise, he just strikes at the rat.
12/04/09  10:55pm

 #2101691


Catfish_82
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   Message To: Imacrabbyshark   In reference to Message Id: 2101607


 Recommended size of feed for baby

Crabbyshark, I’m very glad to hear he’s eating for you.


And Dennis, lol I think you and I are saying the same thing just in different ways.



12/05/09  09:54am


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