Rats Hoppers

• Whole prey, not processed – a complete, balanced meal with fur, bone and organs intact, exactly as an obligate carnivore is built to eat.
• Hopper size grade – roughly 20–30 g, the step between fuzzy and weaner rats.
• Frozen fresh, not freeze-dried – retains natural moisture and nutrition that freeze-dried prey loses.
• Consistent sizing within the grade – makes it easier to track how much your animal is eating over time.
• Sold individually – buy exactly the number you need for your feeding schedule.

Rat feeders are graded by weight, not age alone, and exact weight bands vary between suppliers – treat the figures below as a guide, not a guarantee. As a general rule, choose a rat close to the width of the thickest part of your snake's body; if you're unsure, size down rather than up to avoid a difficult feed or regurgitation.

We stock the full ladder from Pinkie through Extra Large Jumbo, plus Weaner, Small, Medium and Large Adult grades and Jumbo single and twin packs – search "Rats" in store to see the full range.

100% whole rat (Rattus norvegicus), frozen. No additives, colours, preservatives or fillers – this is an intact animal, not a formulated food.

A guaranteed analysis (crude protein, fat, fibre, moisture, ash) is not published for whole-prey items the way it is for manufactured pellets or flakes, because there is no manufacturer formulation to declare. Whole prey supplies muscle, organ, bone and fur in natural proportions, which is the basis of a whole-prey feeding diet for carnivorous reptiles.

• Suitable for: juvenile snakes and larger lizards that have outgrown fuzzy rats and are ready to step up in feed size.
• Not suitable for: hatchlings, for whom a hopper rat is too large – use a pinkie or fuzzy rat instead; also too small as a sole feed for sub-adult or adult snakes, which need weaner rats or larger.

Keep frozen until you're ready to feed. Thaw in a sealed bag in the fridge, or in room-temperature water changed every 10–15 minutes, until soft all the way through – never in a microwave, which cooks prey unevenly. Warm the thawed rat in warm water for a few minutes before offering it, as many reptiles respond better to a warm feed. Never refreeze a thawed rat – feed it the same day or discard it.

Treat frozen prey like raw meat: thaw it separately from human food, wash your hands and any tongs or containers after handling, and disinfect the thawing area. Discard any uneaten thawed prey rather than offering it to another animal.

• Zoo Med Plastic Feeding Tongs – more hygienic than fingers when offering thawed prey, and lets you add a little movement to trigger a feeding response.

There's no manufacturer warranty on a food item as such – the consumer guarantee under Australian Consumer Law that the product is of acceptable quality and matches its description still applies. Transfer it to your own freezer as soon as it arrives.

Frozen food is pick up only from our North Lakes store, because a pack that thaws on the way cannot be refrozen.

How many hopper rats come in a pack?

One rat per pack, sold individually so you can buy exactly the number of feeds you need.

What size reptile is a hopper rat for?

Juvenile snakes and larger lizards that have outgrown fuzzy rats – check the width of your reptile against the size table above.

Can I refreeze a thawed hopper rat?

No. Once it's thawed, feed it the same day or discard it.

How do I know if I need a hopper or a weaner rat?

Compare the rat to the thickest part of your reptile – if a hopper looks noticeably narrower than that point, it's time to move up to weaner.