Feeding difference between Rats and Guinea Pigs

Now I know these two aren't corn dinners but seeing how a good number of members here have snakes that to snake in this size range, what are the benefits/disadvantages between them? On rodent pro they have sizes that compare to each other. Is it a fat content or what that would sway someone between the two?

*snack not snake

Wish I could help you out here, but I don't have any snakes that will be able to take a Guinea Pig anytime soon! (the VBB might eventually, but not right now for sure!).

I DID notice that when I went to a supplier that fed various sizes of rats, my snakes all seemed to grow much quicker. I THINK it is due to the higher fat content of the rats, but could not say for sure.

Sorry... I probably shouldn't have posted anything... but it MAY be of a little help?

I dont' want to totally derail this thread, but what about hamsters and gerbils compared to mice and rats?

Originally Posted by James673

I dont' want to totally derail this thread, but what about hamsters and gerbils compared to mice and rats?

I have feed hamsters to my corns. (F/T) I did notice my corns grew quicker on them. Hamsters have a much higher fat content then mice and I did notice a difference when those hamsters came out of the other end of my snakes also !!! lol!
I like to feed my female breeders hamsters after brumation and the period leading up to egg laying. After egg laying I go back to mice as I don't feel the corns need that high a fat content after that.

I think I remember reading somewhere that the hamster is the only rodent recognized as a domesticated pet, which gives it legal protection from cruelty like dogs and cats get. I believe that feeding frozen/Thawed or live hamsters could get you a fine and jail time just like if you fed f/t or live puppies and kittens.

I don't know where I read that and if someone wants to research it, could be interesting. Although I once had a snake that would only eat live pinks and my hamsters were breeding fools...


I figure if you can feed guinea pigs, you can feed rabbits. Seems like they are cheaper, I know that they are much more prolific.

I am told that for BPs, if you feed Gerbils, many of them won't accept anything else again. I've avoided giving my BP that option. At 17, he doesn't need anything disrupting his already hard-to-pleas-ness.

RodentPro actually has nutrition information listed on their site. I don't have time right now to get the link for you as I'm just about to run out the door, but you can find out the difference there.

That being said, I do offer my largest boa Benji (the only one big enough to take the guinea pigs at this point) a guinea pig a few times a year. She likes them, I haven't noticed a difference in poo, and she certainly is growing on schedule...

I got them because they were comparable in size and price to the rats and I wanted to give the boas a little variety.

The biggest difference between rats and Guinea Pigs is the same as mice and hamsters. Only rats and mice have tails.

Actually I bet people will argue this back and forth for weeks. They will present lots of data and facts, some of them actually true. Bottom line the snakes will eat whatever they come across and catch. Anacondas grow very well very large and live happy healthy lives and their main food is a close cousin to the Guinea Pig.

Mice are rats are used primarily because they are extremely prolific. Much more so that gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, or rabbits.

A little off topic but good info.

Guinea pigs have been known to cause impaction in common and RT boas. I used to keep Suriname and common boas years ago. I had a male regurge one time. What a mess and stink. I kept seeing him trying to regurge more but nothing was coming out . about a 1/2 of a hour latter out pop-ed this cigar shaped wad of Guinea pig fur. All the regurge was like gravy everything was broken down but could not pass for further digestion because of the fur blockage. this happened about 2 to 3 months after feeding short hair lab raised Guinea Pigs. I never had a problem after that but I swiched back to rats after that episode. I found out a few days latter from one of my friends that Guinea pigs cause blockages in Boa C. Ssp

Now anacondas and pythons may beadifferent story as wade pointed out the Capybara which is a close relative to the Guinea pig is the main pray item of the Anaconda. I would not feed them to any of the Boa Constrictor Ssp group.