rats and mice

[flaming_lizard]

I bought a rat for my ball python and he did not eat it but he is due up to shed. I though well maybe the rat was too big and got him a large mouse. He did not eat the mouse either. Well now I had the two and figured it would be ok to stick them together. Well I don't know if what happened is common, but the rat killed the mouse within 30 seconds :shock: . He then ate him that night. The rat was not hungry she had a whole bowl of food. Just thought I would let everyone know of my experience and see if that is common.

[kenster]

Great reason to never leave a rat alone with a snake! Rats can be nasty little rodents with razor sharp teeth and the abilty to chew through a lot. I am sure you're not the first person that did that, but I'm sure that next time you'll put the rat and mouse in different tanks until feeding day

[Mike Bair]

Ive heard rats can chew through metal pipes, and thats without having a hole already present. Not sure if its true but just what ive heard, lol.

[Dr Alan]

Rats and mice DON'T EVER typically get along and the "kill" response with the mouse on the losing end is to be expected. It has nothing to do with being hungry.......

[debz]

wow..that's just out of this world..learned something new today..
:idea: never leave a mouse and a rat together

[RTBoas]

when a snake is shedding, dont feed it, it causes problems with shedding.

[beastie]

that's really crazy, i never really thought about that...

that and the fact that i feed f/t...


bc

[Kagome100]

Well I see that but I did have a rat one time in a tank with 3 mice. They loved each other. They did not kill each other and they ate in the same tank. I guess all rats and mice are different.