Feeding can be something with Ball Pythons.
I love that all of mine feed on frozen thawed, and it took me no effort to switch them. Once they got to fuzzie rats I off a frozen, and they just took off with it.
Anyways, it's all on how you want to play it, and what risks you think are less "risky" to chance.
Mice have smaller teeth, and if they bite will cause less damage, and unless the snake is small is usually not going to result in a fatal injury. It also costs more (atleast here) to buy enough mice to feed an adult Ball.
Rats have larger teeth, and if they bite they will cause a more painful, and damaging bite. They can paralyze the snake, or even result in death. It is probably cheaper to buy one suitable sized rat, than enough mice as well.
Of course, the whole biting thing is based on the fact you are watching the feeding to make sure it eats, and if there is a bite it will not be able to bite the snake a second time. Now, I don't recommend live feeding, but sometimes there is just no way around it.
You should always surpervise feeding, and never leave a live rodent alone with your snake.
That is just my own personal $.02
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