Do snakes eat rats? Many pet snakes do. Ball pythons and boa constrictors usually move from mice to rats as they grow. Smaller snakes, such as corn snakes, kingsnakes and hognoses, mostly eat mice. Big adults of some kinds can take small rats. The rule is size: pick prey about 10% of your snake's weight.
That's the short answer. Below, you'll find a table of which snakes eat rats vs mice and why rats suit bigger snakes. You'll also get a size chart by snake weight in grams.
Not sure if your snake is ready for rats? Text Mike its weight. He breeds live feeder rats and mice in the Tucson area. Call or text Mike: (520) 451-4380.
Which snakes eat rats, and which eat mice?
Here's how common pet snakes line up. Each row links to the source we checked.
| Pet snake | Usually eats | Rats? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball python | Mice when young, then larger mice and rats | Yes, as it grows | PetMD |
| Boa constrictor | Mice when small, then rats; also other whole prey | Yes, as it grows | ReptiFiles |
| Corn snake | Mice; small or juvenile rats are also popular | Small rats for bigger adults | ReptiFiles |
| Kingsnake | Mice and small rats | Small rats | LafeberVet |
| Hognose | Mice as pets; rodents, lizards, amphibians and eggs in the wild | Usually stays on mice | Reptiles Magazine |
Not every snake eats rodents. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that some snakes eat insects, frogs or toads, eggs, fish, earthworms or slugs instead. If your snake isn't on this list, check a care sheet for its species.
Want details by species? See our guides on what boa constrictors eat, what hognose snakes eat and how often to feed a corn snake.
Do snakes eat mice too?
Yes. Mice are the first meal for most pet snakes that eat rodents. VCA says constrictors usually eat prey "such as mice, rats, gerbils, small birds, and hamsters."
Some snakes eat mice their whole lives. LafeberVet says an adult kingsnake may be fed 1 to 3 mice once a week. Others, like ball pythons and boas, outgrow mice and move to rats.
Why do rats suit bigger snakes?
It comes down to size. Mike's biggest mouse, the Adult, tops out at 30 g. His rats run from 45 g to over 375 g.
Here's the math with the 10% rule. Say your snake weighs 1,500 g. Ten percent is 150 g. To reach that with mice, you'd need about five Adult mice. With rats, it's one Medium rat (85 to 175 g).
One rat per meal means fewer animals to buy, thaw or handle. Rats also come in five sizes, so you can keep matching your snake as it grows.
Size still has limits. PetMD says prey should be "around the same size as the snake's width at mid-body." Too big is a real risk. Read can a rat kill a snake? for the details.
What size rat or mouse for my snake?
Weigh your snake in grams on a kitchen scale. Then find the feeder that's about 10% of that weight:
| Your snake weighs | Feeder size | How big | Price each |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 to 120 g | Hopper mouse | 7 to 12 g | $1.35 |
| 130 to 170 g | Semi-Adult mouse | 13 to 17 g | $1.55 |
| 180 to 300 g | Adult mouse | 18 to 30 g | $1.80 |
| 300 to 450 g | Two Adult mice, or a Small rat if it passes the width check | See above | See above |
| 450 to 850 g | Small rat | 45 to 85 g | $3.00 |
| 850 g to 1.75 kg | Medium rat | 85 to 175 g | $4.35 |
| 1.75 to 2.75 kg | Large rat | 175 to 275 g | $5.65 |
| 2.75 to 3.75 kg | Extra Large rat | 275 to 375 g | $6.95 |
| 3.75 kg and up | Jumbo rat, retired breeders | 375 g and up | $8.20 |
Prices are per animal, plus 6.1% Arizona sales tax. Buy 10 or more and save 10%. At 25 or more, save 20%. At 50 or more, save 30%. Sold as feeders, not pets.
Always check width too. If a feeder looks wider than your snake's thickest part, go down a size. The feeder size guide shows every size and the other names sellers use. Ball python keepers can go deeper with our grams-by-weight guide for ball pythons.
When should a snake move from mice to rats?
Watch the numbers. Once your snake's 10% target passes 30 g, a single Adult mouse is no longer enough. That happens around 300 g. From there, you can feed two mice or try a Small rat, as long as it passes the width check.
By about 450 g, a Small rat (45 to 85 g) is usually the easy fit.
A few tips for the switch: - Start with the smallest rat that fits. A Small rat is a gentle first step. - Keep the same routine you use now, with a rat in place of the mouse. - If your snake refuses, go back to mice for a meal, then try again.
Ball python keepers, we wrote a full guide on switching from mice to rats.
Do wild snakes eat rats?
Yes, plenty do. The Smithsonian's National Zoo lists rats among the prey of wild boa constrictors.
Closer to home, the National Park Service at Tonto National Monument in Arizona lists rodents in the diets of gopher snakes and western diamondbacks. It says some farmers like gopher snakes "because of the large number of rodents they consume."
Still, skip wild rodents for your pet. ReptiFiles warns against wild-caught prey because of parasite and poison risks. Here's why a wild mouse is a bad idea.
Live or frozen rats?
Live or frozen? Your call. Many keepers feed frozen-thawed, and vets favor it. VCA advises against live prey "because the prey may bite the snake before they are eaten." If your snake eats frozen-thawed, keep doing what works.
If your snake only takes live, pick the right size, stay and watch, and take out any rodent your snake doesn't eat. Never leave a live rat alone with a snake.
Where can you get live rats and mice near Tucson?
Mike breeds live feeder rats and mice in the Tucson area. Rats are his main line, from Small to Jumbo. Mice come in Hopper, Semi-Adult and Adult. No shipping. No dry ice.
Call or text Mike: (520) 451-4380. Tell him your snake's weight and how many you need. He replies the same day. Nothing ready in your size? Get batch alerts, and he'll let you know when the next batch is ready. You can also browse live feeder rats and live feeder mice.
Rats vs mice FAQ
Which snakes eat rats?
Ball pythons and boa constrictors usually move to rats as they grow. Big adult corn snakes and kingsnakes can take small rats. Pet hognoses usually do well on mice.
Is a rat better than a mouse for my snake?
Not better, but a better fit for bigger snakes. Once your snake needs more than one Adult mouse per meal, one rat is simpler. For small snakes, mice are the right choice.
When should a snake move to rats?
When its meal target passes about 30 g, the top of the Adult mouse range. That's around 300 g by the 10% rule. A Small rat is usually the easy fit by about 450 g.
Do wild snakes eat rats?
Yes. The Smithsonian lists rats among wild boa prey. In Arizona, the National Park Service lists rodents in the diets of gopher snakes and western diamondbacks.
What size rat for my snake?
Pick a rat about 10% of your snake's weight and no wider than its thickest part. A 1,000 g snake would take a rat around 100 g, which is a Medium.
Do all snakes eat rodents?
No. VCA Animal Hospitals notes some snakes eat insects, frogs or toads, eggs, fish, earthworms or slugs. Check a care sheet for your species.
Sources
- PetMD, "Ball Python Care Sheet" (Maria Zayas, DVM; reviewed by Melissa Witherell, DVM)
- ReptiFiles, "What do boa constrictors eat?"
- ReptiFiles, "Corn snake food"
- LafeberVet, "Basic Information Sheet: Kingsnakes" (Christal Pollock, DVM)
- Reptiles Magazine, "Western Hognose Snake Care Sheet"
- VCA Animal Hospitals, "Snakes: feeding"
- Smithsonian's National Zoo, "Boa constrictor"
- National Park Service, Tonto National Monument, "Snakes"
