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 #2208421


TheSurfer
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 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

So I have a ’08 female that I mistakenly kept on mice for too long. I’ve tried to get her to take rats a couple time, but now I really need her to if I ever want a chance at breeding her. Should I only offer her a rat once a week until she gets the idea, and not even offer a mouse?? It seems like she know she will always get one. She is the most picky snake I’ve EVER had. She will act like she is hungry, then refuse. Then take one the next day after she’s been hiding all day. Then she’ll seem satisfied for two weeks on one 35g mouse! Anyway, Let me know what you think of my next method, and feel free to offer any other suggestions.

What I’ve already tried and failed at:

All with f/t rat
1. scenting rat with another mouse
2. shake and bake using mouse bedding
3. following a swallowing mouse with rat
4. brown baggin in
5. annoyingly moving rat all over her to get an anger strike

Thanks,

Will
03/06/11  10:53pm

 #2208448


Reflex
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   Message To: TheSurfer   In reference to Message Id: 2208421


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

For some reason, my snakes like a stable size of prey. If it is noticeably bigger OR smaller than what they are used to they won’t eat it. Try feeding a rat that is the size of a 35g, then gradually move up in size. Of course you’re probably going to need to find a rat breeder to get those sizes.
03/07/11  06:11am

 #2208470


Rick247
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   Message To: Reflex   In reference to Message Id: 2208448


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

Let her smell the mouse and perk her head up.(not to close lol) Then put the small rat in with her. Do the switch a roor on her.
03/07/11  11:34am

 #2208590


TheSurfer
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   Message To: Rick247   In reference to Message Id: 2208470


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

Quote:

Try feeding a rat that is the size of a 35g, then gradually move up in size.


I’ve tried that with f/t, but I will try that with a weaned rat and see if that works.

Quote:

Let her smell the mouse and perk her head up.(not to close lol) Then put the small rat in with her. Do the switch a roor on her.


Maybe if I dangle a live one in front of her using tongs, this way I don’t get tagged. haha.
Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll give both a try.

-Will
03/08/11  12:03am

 #2208651


Edf
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   Message To: TheSurfer   In reference to Message Id: 2208590


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

hmmm... i’d try not giving into her for a little, let her miss a few meals if any of the ways of trying to get her to switch don’t work. She may take them if she is hungrier than usual.

good luck! If its an option, you can try soft furs- they will get bigger than mice at least. But there is a chance she could imprint on them. ( i have some that wil switch from SF to rat no issue, but some wont)



03/08/11  12:52pm

 #2208898


TheSurfer
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   Message To: Edf   In reference to Message Id: 2208651


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

I think that’s what I’m going to have to do Janet. I think with that, she will get the picture that mice have gone extinct. haha. And I thought about the soft furs. They are just really hard to come by around here. I’d definitely have to breed my own. Anyway, thanks Janet.

-Will
03/10/11  02:13am

 #2209033


Edf
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   Message To: TheSurfer   In reference to Message Id: 2208898


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

too bad i can;’t ship!

but i would definatly do soft furs as a last resort. and if you do pick some up, I would recomend breeding them for a little before offering to s snake. soft furs do breed fast, but take longer to grow, so you can go through them quicker than you may realize.

good luck!
03/11/11  07:56am

 #2209245


Firearms454
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   Message To: TheSurfer   In reference to Message Id: 2208421


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

try getting it to take 2 mice each feeding then after a few feedings instead of 2 mice use a rat of same size as the second your snake should take it being in feeding response and knowing a second is the norm after a few of 1 mouse and 1 rat feeding try the rat first once it takes the rat first your good to go for rats i have had good luck doing it this way.
03/12/11  12:54pm

 #2209908


Rick247
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   Message To: Firearms454   In reference to Message Id: 2209245


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

Did any of it work. I would like to know what worked for you.
03/16/11  06:23pm

 #2209974


TheSurfer
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   Message To: Rick247   In reference to Message Id: 2209908


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

Well, I have offered her rats at two time with no success. I’m not going to feed her mice anymore. I have a small live rat that has been living in the mouse house. The mice were feed two weeks ago, and I didn’t change the substrate hoping the mouse scent would work. Have to wait till next week.



03/16/11  10:16pm

 #2210075


Rick247
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   Message To: TheSurfer   In reference to Message Id: 2209974


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

Sweet good luck
03/17/11  04:08pm

 #2210908


TheSurfer
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   Message To: Rick247   In reference to Message Id: 2210075


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

Well. . .after 28 days of offering only one rat per week, she finally took one tonight!!! I’m super happy! But, I’m not going to get too happy until she takes one 3 times in a row. Hopefully she has just accepted the fact that she will no longer be offered mice. Only time will tell. Thanks for the suggestions!
03/22/11  01:37am

 #2211202


Royal python
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   Message To: TheSurfer   In reference to Message Id: 2210908


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

I’m have the same problem as I’m trying to switch my bp to rats. I’ve done all the scenting techniques and also the offer it to him every week thing. tried it for 3 weeks, but by then he looked thin and I then couldn’t bear it anymore and I fed him a mouse. did you offer yours a smaller rat then usual?
03/23/11  11:22pm

 #2211206


RichsBallPythons
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   Message To: Royal python   In reference to Message Id: 2211202


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

Feed what ever the snake is eating on. No reason to ever switch to rats if the snake is eating.

Theres no scientific studies done to prove mice or rats are better than the other, since we dont know the nutrient requirements for snakes.

Feed what works before you end up causing the snake to not eat cause YOU wanted it to eat what YOU offered.


I have gravid females who are 2500+ grams and eat only mice. and i have rat eaters who are only 1500g. Dont matter what you feed as long as they eat
03/23/11  11:55pm

 #2211210


TheSurfer
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   Message To: RichsBallPythons   In reference to Message Id: 2211206


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

I am switching because my female will not eat enough mice to grow to a larger, breedable size. She has stayed around 1000g for the last year. She would eat mice, but no more than two at a time. My hopes are that she will gain weight with the larger rat sizes.



03/24/11  12:04am

 #2211215


RichsBallPythons
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   Message To: TheSurfer   In reference to Message Id: 2211210


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

larger meals are wasted meals, that dont always cause a snake to grow. Genetics play a role in their size more than how much or what their feeding. And she could also not be in a growth stage.

All i feed my 2500+ mouse eaters isn 2 adults every 5 days and she lays 8 eggs every year shes bred.

I have a 5 year old female rat eater since day born and still only 1400g and wont gain more.



03/24/11  12:18am

 #2211299


Edf
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   Message To: RichsBallPythons   In reference to Message Id: 2211215


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

i dont think there is anything wrong with trying to get a snake to eat rats instead of mice. no harm in trying. if snakes weight suffers, i wouldnt let the snake die over it, but i see no harm in trying to switch.



03/24/11  02:58pm

 #2211333


Reflex
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   Message To: Edf   In reference to Message Id: 2211299


 Switching to rats. . .suggestions??

Quote:

i dont think there is anything wrong with trying to get a snake to eat rats instead of mice. no harm in trying.



I agree. It was really annoying to try and thaw out 3 times as many mice as rats... plus more expensive for me. Plus, I absolutely refuse to breed mice like I do rats. Luckily all of my snakes transferred without complaint, but if they didn’t I would have been driven mad! lol. For some people, there is no reason to make the effort to switch, but if it’s more convenient and cheaper for some, it’s worth it.
03/24/11  06:07pm


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