I would like to know what do you think is best to feed Nikita,my russian rat snake (about 5,5' in size). Would you feed her every week one small rat,or every two weeks two small rats or one medium rat?What about feeding mice? As I read that russian rats like smaller feeders and some keepers on the net fed mice,how many mice would you feed at one time? I know that rats are better food for snakes,but what about with adult snakes who don't need to grow anymore,like a baby does? Would you still feed rats? I have to ad that she was used live rats but too many per week!
I'd be very grateful for any advice!!Thank you so much!!

Well Jacky, firstly rats aren't better food items for snakes, mice and rats contain pretty much the same nutritional value, but rats can be more bulky with more fat basically. Anyway, I would feed one weaner rat per week - less food more often is better for the snake, and colubrids have fast metabolisms so there is no need to leave longer periods between feeds like can be beneficial with boids.

Mice aren't really suitable as they are just too small - you would need to feed too many to make the equivilant of rats. If your snake is eating rats without problem I wouldn't consider switching to mice. We feed mice to those who aren't big enough for rat items or to those who refuse rats. Prefer the fatter rats for the larger snakes.

Right now we feed Timone, our adult male yellow rat x corn one small rat per week,. he's around 5ft in length. Hope this helps.

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

Thanks Bitis;what's a weaner rat? And what's boids mean?

Sorry, weaner rat is basically a rat that is 3-5 weeks old, that has been "weaned" from the mother. Over here it's the next size down to a small rat, but wherever you go they have different sizes.

Boid is the collective name for pythons and boas, like colubrid is the name for corns, rats, etc.

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

I think the rats she's talking about are called "Springer-Ratten" here, Jacky.
It sounds like Nikita needs to have her diet adjusted, since she was being over-fed. Try one Springer once a week, like Rachel suggested and see how she does. Once she's used to eating rats, I don't see a reason to change back to mice.

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Andrea

Thanks Bitis and Andrea.Sorry,I explained it wrong Andrea;as far as I know,she always had rats in her adult life,but I read about russians liking smaller feeders better,but when I take "Springer-Ratten" it will be fine! Thanks again for the advice!
I also read that a female russian eats up to 100 mice a season before brumation!! But as I'm not breeding with her,I think one baby rat per week will be enough.
Someone also suggested to me two smaller rats every two weeks,but now I learned that it's healthier less food but more often(once a week).
(Is it called 'brumation'? Anyway I think you know what I mean.Otherwise you can have a good laugh,LOL!The word isn't in my dictionary,so I'm not sure if this is actually the right word!!)

Lol yes it's brumation Jacky. It is good to feed up females before brumation and the breeding season, as they will lose a lot of weight when laying eggs, but since you won't be breeding just yet I would stick to one small rat per week.

Springer-ratten, hmm well there's a new one for my dictionary!

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

I thought it was pretty odd the first time I heard it too, Rachel. It's German for "hopper" -- but I'm not sure if it's exactly the same size as what in English is called a "hopper rat".
Every time I hear it though, I think of a spring, which makes me think of a "Slinky" ... then my mind adds some ears, a tail and whiskers and watches it slink down the stairs to the feeding tubs!
(Yes, I HAVE gone mad! )

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Andrea

LOL,yes,German is an odd language

I will show how some reptiles are called in German,might be a laugh,lol
Ball python = Königspython
Corn snake = Kornnatter
Bearded dragon = Bartagame
ChineseWater Dragon = Wasseragame
Children's python = Fleckenpython
Sinaloan milksnake = Sinaloe Milchschlange/Dreiecksnatter
English sounds much more beautiful!!!