Jody asked:
Birds and mammals are endotherms; they maintain a constant internal body temperature no matter whether the environment is cold or hot. An endotherm that gets too cold will increase its metabolic rate to generate heat. An ectothermic animal such as a reptile, on the other hand, allows its body temp to fluctuate with the environment. If you own a pet rat and a pet snake of equal weight, which will require more food?
Birds and mammals are endotherms; they maintain a constant internal body temperature no matter whether the environment is cold or hot. An endotherm that gets too cold will increase its metabolic rate to generate heat. An ectothermic animal such as a reptile, on the other hand, allows its body temp to fluctuate with the environment. If you own a pet rat and a pet snake of equal weight, which will require more food?
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Pet rat will require more energy = more food. It seems you answered your question already.
On the other hand, a snake will not be allowed to run around the home like your pet rat, so the snake will just go to sleep and not eat for weeks.
You answered your own question. Endotherms need more food in order to fuel the internal furnace. Rats will need to eat every day. A snake of the same weight may only need a meal a week and it can go off feed for months without problem. A rat can starve to death much sooner if deprived of food.