good to know.
I didnt question you or your animals. Just thought you would share some photos or your experience with raising feeders or see some cool pictures.
I didnt have much luck and dont like rats as pets or the required maintenance/time associated with them. Dont be offended by someone who sucks at spelling or has a difference in opinion. Maybe I could have learned how to raise rodents correctly, saved $, and had more time to spend on things i love.
4lb (1800g) 10% prey 180g (about 1/3lb) which is several sizes smaller unles you have a long skiny snake and would be just right or 1 to 2 sizes biger (so small would be a large when going 1 size biger) than thickes part of snake. If you consider 15% prey 270g (about 1/2lb) which would be about right or slightly biger for a thicker snake and way to big for a more slender snake. If you want to take it further then a sm mouse is about 14g, large around 20g, xl 30g, small rat 45g, med 100g, larg 180g, xl 270g and all vary in a range depending on age which can cause names or terms to be loosley used and weights to very depending on who you speak with. Hopefully that clarifies an over complicated topic about prey size.
Also, please use common sense and dont put the prey next to snake and try and size it up. Its like putting your hand on a hot stove. You will get bitten.
Lastly, wear gloves or wash you hands when dealing with feeders because you can and will get sick if you injest or rub your eyes. In some cases get fungal issues or parisites if purchased from unreputable source. Even reputable sorces have outbreaks from time to time. Buying frozen wont defrost when shiped corectly as its packed on dry ice and insulated. You could leave out for a few days and the mice will most likley have freezer burn (not be defrosted).
This is not always true and you should temp check your frozen deliveries when you open them. Anything that feels soft and mushy is not safe. Heck, standard operating procedure for the big box pet shop I worked for was to report and discard any frozen food delivery that temps over 40F as a loss. There would regularly be something that partially thawed that needed to be written off. And more total losses than I’d like.
I know a few people who received bad shipments from reputable feeder companies as well. But typically they will work with you on things as long as you report it properly.
They come insulated on dry ice and are hard as a rock. Whatever happens befor i open the box is unknown.
I cant speak for others experiences. No one is perfect and things happen from time to time. I am Thankfull I have not had any issues.
Some science for everyone in this thread. I consider this a MUST READ
Heavy Bulky or Both-- What Does Large Prey Mean to Snakes.pdf (3.5 MB)
Thank you for sharing this great and extensive read with plenty of research to back what has been discussed. It also expands on frequency, mass, and size in relationship to snake energy output.
Crazy how Red Tail Boa put down what looked like a deer or antilope of some sort. Goes to show how wrong hobby norms can be about prey size and frequency.