I have had my snakes for quite a while but am finding that the pet store in town does not keep them well and they are, in fact quite disgusting. I am trying to grow my own food so to speak and was wanting to breed rats. I am having an incredibly difficult time finding any though and was wondering if hamsters would suffice. I know that you can't or shouldn't feed snakes certain foods because of the lack of nutrients but didn't know where hamsters fell into that category. I looked into mice but my mom isn't crazy about having live mice in the house. I could do it if necessary but thought I'd look into the hamsters first. Thanks for the help!!
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feeding question
- Thread starter gisele
- Start date
paulc
New member
They are just as nutritious as mice, so I would go for it. I used to breed them to give to my snakes and the snakes did well on them. I also found that I had good results getting problem feeders to start on hamsters and them move over to mice later.
The only thing that I hated about hamsters they have a tendancy to bite you more ( evil little creatures). they also dont have as many babies as mice.
Best of luck
The only thing that I hated about hamsters they have a tendancy to bite you more ( evil little creatures). they also dont have as many babies as mice.
Best of luck
CAV
Dazed and Cornfused
Watch out Q! You'll get added to the dreaded "ignore" list.
I've never tried 'em, but there are others here that have used hamsters with good results. I think Marcel Poots posted a pic of a hamster pup and a corn. I can’t imagine there would be a nutritional difference but I do know hamsters have less than agreeable personalities.
I've never tried 'em, but there are others here that have used hamsters with good results. I think Marcel Poots posted a pic of a hamster pup and a corn. I can’t imagine there would be a nutritional difference but I do know hamsters have less than agreeable personalities.
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Hamsters are nasty and mean~ but mice stink and are pretty mean too~ rats are great~ hard not to get attatched and suddenly have a new pet!
Only nutritional difference I have heard of between rats/mice and hamsters is that hamsters are herbavores and rats/mice are omnivores~ BUT most breeders do not offer feeders rats/mice a vareity including meat but simply a rodent blend feed (or some use dog feed) so I doubt there would be an appreciable difference in their nutritional value if the hamsters were fed a lab diet~ or a diet high in nut products (Higher protien)
I still think you would be better off continueing to try to find rats or mice though. Hamsters are hatefull.
Join the club being ignored by Jicin~ I was put on her ignore list the fist time I met her. LOL!! This place is a lot more fun since she stopped responding to my posts.
Only nutritional difference I have heard of between rats/mice and hamsters is that hamsters are herbavores and rats/mice are omnivores~ BUT most breeders do not offer feeders rats/mice a vareity including meat but simply a rodent blend feed (or some use dog feed) so I doubt there would be an appreciable difference in their nutritional value if the hamsters were fed a lab diet~ or a diet high in nut products (Higher protien)
I still think you would be better off continueing to try to find rats or mice though. Hamsters are hatefull.
Join the club being ignored by Jicin~ I was put on her ignore list the fist time I met her. LOL!! This place is a lot more fun since she stopped responding to my posts.
haha, seems like she's somewhat uptight. She wouldn't happen to be a rodent activist or anything eh? j/k. anyway, back to the main topic. I heard from someone that hamsters tend to have bones that can splinter. Does this hold any weight? I wouldn't want to give my babies something that could potentially injure them. thanks for all the advice much appreciated.
much appreciated.
Quigs
"Got R Did"
Jicin said:
JICIN -
I was not the one that claimed this! Nor did I claim that mice were better. But such a bold and blanketed statement such as the one you provided, I thought surely you would have some hardcore evidence or at VERY LEAST some kind of personal experience on the matter!
Not to worry though, you proved my point without even realizing that you were setup for it! :twoguns:
CAV and JM -
I'm sure it won't be long before I join you all in the "dog pound"! I'm not scared and might rather enjoy myself with good company and plenty of GOOD knowledge with you two! JICIN has already attacked me in private messages and tried to "one up" me on experience here.
He/she even went as far as giving me negative rep points for a post I made answering someones question about when the next Chicago show was! lol
Don't you just love know-it-all's that post to every thread whether they know what the hell they are talking about or not?!
gisele -
I have never heard of the claim to splintering bones with hamsters. However, I do agree with CAV and JM about hamsters having less babies and also having a tendency towards the mean side.
Another thing to think about is this...
Do you have or can you breed ample supply of hamster pups and/or adults to support your snakes. If not, are they obtainable? Consider this...once your snakes have had the taste of "exotic" meals, they may be rather difficult to get back on mice if need be down the road sometime!
In closing and on the lighter side...here is a pic I just took of one of my very friendly female mice...
Regards,
Quigs
Quigs
"Got R Did"
Well actually, I wasn't meaning to completely run you off the idea. I'm sure it's been done before. I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into. If you can sustain or at least acquire enough pups/adults for your snakes then hamsters could be a staple. But as soon as your supply runs dry, if your have a slow production month or the pet shop doesn't have any...you have to goto the alternative!
Mice are always available most everywhere! That's why I referred to the hamsters as an exotic meal
Not in all snakes but certainly in some...once you get them feeding one thing and then switch, they may decide they like the latter offer better and refuse the original. This could work both ways, if you always offered a hatchling from day one a hamster, gerbil or even small lizards or chicks...when it comes time to switch prey items this becomes the "exotic"
I hope this helpful and not confusing you even more.
Good luck with whatever you choose,
Quigs
Mice are always available most everywhere! That's why I referred to the hamsters as an exotic meal
Not in all snakes but certainly in some...once you get them feeding one thing and then switch, they may decide they like the latter offer better and refuse the original. This could work both ways, if you always offered a hatchling from day one a hamster, gerbil or even small lizards or chicks...when it comes time to switch prey items this becomes the "exotic"
I hope this helpful and not confusing you even more.
Good luck with whatever you choose,
Quigs
hehe, no worries, I think actually, that I'm going to try once more to see if I can get rats. I know my snakes will take either rats or mice and rats are the most fertile that I've heard of. I havent' heard of anything negative in regards to breeding them. I really appreciate all of your advice. Its been really helpful. I'd much rather make an informed decision than think I know what I'm talking about and hope I've got it right. cute mice by the way. Even my dad liked them which is saying something. Neither of my parents are too thrilled at the idea of having live rodents in the house but are consenting never the less. Thanks again.
cute mice by the way. Even my dad liked them which is saying something. Neither of my parents are too thrilled at the idea of having live rodents in the house but are consenting never the less. Thanks again.
drizzt_19
What goes here???
Hey all,
Here is a nutrition guide that I have posted in the past...Since there seems to be some questions regarding the nutritional value of some feeder rodents in this thread, I thought it would be appropriate to repost it...
Nutrition Guide
Here is a nutrition guide that I have posted in the past...Since there seems to be some questions regarding the nutritional value of some feeder rodents in this thread, I thought it would be appropriate to repost it...
Nutrition Guide
CAV
Dazed and Cornfused
You can also ask Elrojo. he calls it "gumbo"
I know folks out in Chip's neck of the woods eat most of the stuff on that list so maybe he can provide us with some additional insight.
(I wish he'd get his power and 'puter running so he could at least know I'm shooting at him.)
I know folks out in Chip's neck of the woods eat most of the stuff on that list so maybe he can provide us with some additional insight.
(I wish he'd get his power and 'puter running so he could at least know I'm shooting at him.
)
Jicin
Corn love
Quigs how old are you? 5? You're pissed That i reponded to a rude message of yours and you didn't know how to respond. Now if you excuse me, i'm tired of you picking fights with me. Grow up. Go pick fights with everyone who says something you consider not perfect. Act your age, not your precious rep points. Goodbye.
thanks for the nutrition chart drizzt 19. I confess it didn't make a lot of sense to me but thats just my own unfamiliarity of the system. My dad is now going to the city and will pick me up some rats (hopefully) so hopefully that will go well. I am pretty sure that rats and mice are interchangeable. but correct me if I'm wrong.