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Nicola
Hatchling
United Kingdom
90 Posts |
 Posted - 02/01/2013 : 21:58:53
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Hi there,
I'm due to pick up my spider at the end of the month and cannot wait. :D
I'm getting all prepped ready and wanted to find out your preferences on prey.
I have been told that mice are healthier for the snake as rats are fatty, and the mice are more expensive. With this in mind I was advised it is just your personal preference, and that feeding rats is more Likly to get your snake bigger quicker, but those breeding may want to stick with the less fatty option of mice.
I believe my 5 month old girl is on small mice at the moment and I'm happy to completely stick with this if it's the best option. I feel i want to stick to what she knows and likes and with it sounding the healthier option... But I'm new to royals and snakes in general so want to make the best choice for her by finding out all the info I can. I don't intend to breed atm but I would like to concider it one day when I have more experience.
What do you like to feed your royals and is there a reason in particular why you choose to feed them this?
Thanks :)
Nic x |
0.0.1 California Kingsnake. Cecil
0.1.0 Spider Royal Python. Lexi
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Edited by - Nicola on 02/01/2013 22:04:03 |
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Evolution Morphs
Old Royal - I Post too much!
United Kingdom
2265 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2013 : 22:13:46
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If they done 150grams mice I'd stick to mice
But as they don't rats are the best option
Rarther than feeding 2 xl mice at a time
Although my Mojave female won't feed on anything else she's putting on weight very well
It's what works for your royal
That will work for you
I'd be trying to switch to rats on every hatchling I get for easy of feeding
Why did you say mice are more money than rates ?
From what I've seen rats are always more money |
now on facebook
Royal Pythons
http://www.facebook.com/EvolutionMorphs
Western Hognose |
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Nicola
Hatchling
United Kingdom
90 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2013 : 22:16:00
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Ooh mi bad!!! Found a similar post to this a few pages on, recent so I was before it was posted that I last went through all the pages!
But if anyone has other opinions or info I'd much appreciate.... I'm still unsure.
Feeding lots of mice does sound like a lot of hassle all round with all the
Fur, eating/digesting and costs. Hmmm...... |
0.0.1 California Kingsnake. Cecil
0.1.0 Spider Royal Python. Lexi
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jbarlow91
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
897 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2013 : 22:47:55
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| I would say rats are best because most people feed their royals 10-15% of their body weight so if you have a large royal that is 2000+ grams its gonna take probably four or five mice to achieve it instead of just one rat |
0.1.0 snow corn Ruby 1.0.0 ghost corn-Oreo
1.0.0 bearded dragon- kato
0.1.0 bearded dragon- keita
1.0.0 cali king-Taz
0.1.0 royal-Clio
1.0.0 yellowbelly royal- Moose
0.1.0 hognose jinxx |
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Fezza
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1063 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2013 : 22:58:33
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I switch straight to rats ASAP, I'll keep some mice in the freezer just incase someone gets picky.
The only snake I don't feed rats to, is the gtp. Their metabolic rate is supposed to be a lot slower than royals so they can't process the additional fat content as well royal, adding to prolapse issues
I wouldn't worry overly about the fat content in rats vs mice. It's not fat in the sense of a person eating a maccys everyday. I think as long as you're not over feeding, sticking to the correct prey size on a realistic feeding schedule, your snake should be healthy |
1.0.0 normal royal
1.0.0 mojave royal
1.0.0 pastel enchi royal
0.1.0 cinnamon royal
0.1.0 pewter royal
0.1.0 genetic stripe royal
0.1.0 lesser goblin royal
0.1.0 phantom royal
0.1.0 Columbian rainbow boa
0.0.1 aru x jaya GTP
0.1.0 bredli
1.0.0 trans pecos rat snake
1.0.0 fat black cat
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Tweek
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2013 : 00:50:47
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| Always rats in my opinion. At the end of the day if your royal is getting over weight just feed smaller rats or expand the intervals between feeds e.g go from 7-10 day feeds or even 2 weeks. |
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markmifsud
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
534 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2013 : 11:14:44
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| I like to feed a mouse every now and then to give them a break from the heavy digestion of a rat |
1.1.0 Pastal Ball
1.0.0 Normal Ball aged 7(ish)
0.1.0 Normal Ball aged 7(ish)
Bromley. SE London |
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jbarlow91
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
897 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2013 : 11:42:35
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| My female has had jumbo mice for last couple of weeks but she had only ate four times since august before that so at least she is eating lol gonna try her with a rat this weekend tho try and get her back on them |
0.1.0 snow corn Ruby 1.0.0 ghost corn-Oreo
1.0.0 bearded dragon- kato
0.1.0 bearded dragon- keita
1.0.0 cali king-Taz
0.1.0 royal-Clio
1.0.0 yellowbelly royal- Moose
0.1.0 hognose jinxx |
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Leucistic
Yearling
United Kingdom
453 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2013 : 11:45:09
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| Mine was on mice, but I have just swapped him on to rats as he was getting close to being beyond the 10-15% mark. So thought I would get him over asap before having to feed mutiple mice. |
1.0.0 Mojave Royal Python - Loki
0.1.0 Lesser Fire Royal Python - Summer
0.1.0 100% het Albino Royal Python - Nancy
1.0.0 Butter Spider Royal Python - Otis
1.0.0 Albino Royal Python - Hermies
1.0.0 California King Snake - Oreo (Mr Grumpy)
1.0.0 Western Hognose - Tyrion
0.1.0 Amazon Tree Boa - Rose
0.1.0 Horned frog - India
0.0.2 Gargoyle Gecko - Willow & Amber
0.0.1 Leachianus Henkeli- Boo
0.1.0 Staffy x Bulldog - Piggy
Lots of Fish and Shrimp |
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jbarlow91
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
897 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2013 : 13:11:50
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| Gonna try and get my male onto rats now hopefully he will take it. Shouldn't have any problems tho he is a pig nearly tripled in weight since I have had him he is just under 300g |
0.1.0 snow corn Ruby 1.0.0 ghost corn-Oreo
1.0.0 bearded dragon- kato
0.1.0 bearded dragon- keita
1.0.0 cali king-Taz
0.1.0 royal-Clio
1.0.0 yellowbelly royal- Moose
0.1.0 hognose jinxx |
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Nicola
Hatchling
United Kingdom
90 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2013 : 00:35:59
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Ooh I see why rats are the favourite now. I'm thinking I'll try her with mice while she settles in and convert over before she gets to needing a few of them.
Thanks for all the replies :) its good to see what your all doing and why. Fingers crossed she feeds ok with me as I know she has refused recently.
:D |
0.0.1 California Kingsnake. Cecil
0.1.0 Spider Royal Python. Lexi
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Kin9Dub
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2013 : 20:12:45
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| my girl is 4 months old and she's on large mice, and takes them very easily. rats are more expensive and for less. but their obviously bigger. if it was me I'd try her on something bigger, if she doesnt take it, stick to the small for a few weeks ten try again; just try medium mice if your a bit dubious about her taking it. But as the other said, rats asap, i'd always vary the diet occasionally. small mice are not enough for a 5 month old in my opinion, my gf has a royal the same age as mine but a lot smaller and shes on medium mice. |
Edited by - Kin9Dub on 09/01/2013 20:14:42 |
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herriotfan
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
812 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2013 : 21:08:51
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| Mine have rats because that's what they were eating when I got them. I just kept them on a food I know they'll eat! |
Husband....Very Understanding!!! (Phil)
Son & Daughter (Kevin & Carol)
Granddaughter (Eva)
3.4.0 Cornsnakes Amel (Sidney) Caramel Stripe (Sultan) Amber (Cleo) Carolina (Phoebe) Anery Motley Stripe (Penny) Snow (Lily) Caramel (Holmes)
1.2.0 Royal Pythons (Peeps, Pandora & Pepsi)
1.0.0 Hognose (Hudson)
2.1.0 Dogs (Dillon, Alfie, Ellie)
0.1.0 Senegal Parrot (Peanut)
1.1.0 Bearded Dragons (Bonnie & Clyde)
1.0.0 Crested Gecko (Echo)
0.2.1 Hermanns Tortoises (Ebbie, Rosie & Twiglet)
0.1.0 Guinea Pig (Dolly-Pipsqueak)
0.1.9 Tarantulas (Poppy, Gypsy, Bumble, Insey Winsey, Sonic, Cookie, Fudge, Sox, Raven & Titch)
??? Foster animals
Location: Near Saffron Walden, Essex
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Nicola
Hatchling
United Kingdom
90 Posts |
Posted - 14/01/2013 : 23:30:56
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Awe thanks kin9dub, I can't wait to get her and just want to get it right. I'll try her on a large mouse then and see how she goes. I know she took her last meal so that's good. I'm sure it was either small or medium. Ill give her whatever she wants to make sure she's happy and eating :)
That's good herriotofan, that's why I was unsure of what to feed and when to up it.... Seen most people on rats so i was getting a bit confused! Think I'm just worrying being new to royals (and picky feeders)!
X
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0.0.1 California Kingsnake. Cecil
0.1.0 Spider Royal Python. Lexi
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kev 5
Yearling
United Kingdom
334 Posts |
Posted - 15/01/2013 : 07:07:21
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| two of my snakes we're on mice when i got them, one ate rats straight away the other took about a month of eating mice before she took a small weaner rat. |
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Cookie
Yearling
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 15/01/2013 : 18:34:14
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| Whats peoples opinion on trying chicks? My boys off his food again and wont eat weaners, and last time I tried mice he refused too... so Im considering chicks but have heard they are very fatty and sometimes can make Royals even more picky feeders.... :/ |
1.2.0 Royal Pythons (Sebastian, Romeo & Gypsy)
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IncurableFlirt
Yearling
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 16/01/2013 : 00:56:38
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| All of my adult Royals eat rats, though I do occasionally give them jumbo mice if they'll take them. It is the general consensus here in the States that mice have a higher calcium content and rats are a little more fatty. Most of mine will readily take mice or rats, but I do have a couple that are strictly mouse or strictly rat. As long as you are feeding them enough to maintain (or slowly, healthily gain) weight, they should be just fine. :) As for chicks...never tried them myself, but my local breeder friend once told me that they should be considered a "junk food" meal and only given every now and then. He also told me that he has noticed when he feeds chicks, his Royals have more runny poo. Not sure if it would make them more picky, but anything is possible with these guys, lol. |
Jenn.
11.8 Ball pythons
1.0 BCI boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa |
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Cookie
Yearling
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 16/01/2013 : 14:36:34
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| I might get a couple just to see if I can encoruage him to eat for me. So frustrating when they go off their food lol.. Thanks for the advice :) |
1.2.0 Royal Pythons (Sebastian, Romeo & Gypsy)
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Foremand
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
968 Posts |
Posted - 16/01/2013 : 15:01:35
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| If anyone is near Surreypetsupplies.co.uk they sell gerbils etc at a good price. Just for reference |
1.0.0 Royal python- Kaa
1.0.0 German shepherd- Riley
0.3.0 Cats- Does not matter they won't come to you
1.0.0 Red Footed Tortoise- Nemo
1.0.0 Boa- Bison
0.0.1 Brocky- Bearded dragon |
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Feeding preferences for your royal.
