Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got some today.I put in with 6 wc adult balls.They didn't eat them.They are the size of mice.look like fancy mice.I will try to cross with mice and see if i get better results.If anyone is having luck with them let me know how you did it.I am trying anything to keep these wc adults alive.Heres a pic of my result.
I hope everyone else has luck with them.

Link

I got them last August, all 1400 grams. I wormed them all the same week. Ive tried gerbils, babies, subs adults, Rats(same), Mice(same). Nothing.

Tonight I have 5 of them that have taken the africans that havent eaten before. Some of them have eaten 2. I have a Female that just laid a cluch that wouldnt eat anything take 2 of them and I have another female that has eating maybe once a month since I had her and she has eaten 2 in the same hour.

I have the snakes with cypress mulch, hide box and fresh water in 41q plastic tubs. THE HIDE BOX IS A MUST!!!!!!!!! My temps are 80-88 with a hot spot 95

I always like it when you guys mention your temperatures. My cool end temperatures are in the high 70's to low 80's these days. Knowing that you're working around the same temperatures is encouraging. I have a digital thermometer probe in the favorite coconut hide where my ball python has been spending her time for the past few weeks. That probe is showing 92.8 right now. Her other hides are at 89 and 78 these days.

Thanks,

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

Those african rats look neat..I wouldn't mind getting my paws on them myself, every place is so far from michigan though..
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-Amelia
ES Tropicals

not be be Mr.negative but I was thinking...were all fired up and ready to use african rats right....yes they may be helpful to problem eaters....but they are hard to get.... I just hope people dont switch all their snakes to them and risk low supply...some snakes once switched don't seem to go back to their old food readily....same as the gerbil concept....yes snakes love them but after they eat them thats all they want (most cases)...just a thought....how much do african rats cost? ...another good thing for problem eaters is those fuzzy hamster looking mice....i had some of those and they were awesome..my picky snakes loved them....long story short thats all they want and i'm breeding them now lol
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we're here because a hobby became an obsession... if only every one had this much fun

some days your the dog, some days your the hydrant...don't know who started this saying but it's the truth

I do not think they are the only answer, but maybe another option for those picky eaters. I will be trying some of the 7 males I bought tonight to see if I have any success with them.

BTW, at the show they cost $3.00/each for live. Their website lists them for around the same price each as medium-large rats. Since they are smaller than regular rats, by ounce they would be more expensive. However, if it is the difference between a picky eater thriving or a WC eating, the few cents might be worth it to try.

Have a great weekend!
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Alice Cobb

I don't think it's a cure all - especially with balls since we know that many of them get stuck on things of certain size, color, smell (probably why its so hard to get a WC to eat in captivity). But for a last resort it's a gateway to getting them eating and (hopefully) moving them on to domestic rodents. I certainly wouldnt used them for a snake that is just off feed for breeding season.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

6.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.1 Lizard of unknown origin

a snakes life is absolutely worth the extra money for the african rats...but its always a good thing to put the negatives on the forum for those who dont think things through especially for the new guys and gals...i would hate for some one to switch over a good eater just because were raving over the african rats..I just thought i would adress the down sides of using the feeders if you havent reached the point where their a necessity
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we're here because a hobby became an obsession... if only every one had this much fun

some days your the dog, some days your the hydrant...don't know who started this saying but it's the truth

Yes - I was agreeing with both of you - it was a point I was going to bring up after the fourth thread was posted but then found you'd already done it!!
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

6.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.1 Lizard of unknown origin

thanks tosha

There is no cure all for ball pythons because theres always a draw back...I just think its importaint to look at things from both a negative and positive point of view....in this hobby its a necessity... not only could you loose some expensive pets your playing with a animals life. I think we should promote this attitude for the new guys so they dont make mistakes they dont have to. Im not exactly a pro but I've been around animals every day since i can remember...I may be young but I've experienced alot ....and things still suprise me
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we're here because a hobby became an obsession... if only every one had this much fun

some days your the dog, some days your the hydrant...don't know who started this saying but it's the truth

It appears that because one person had some luck with these Magic Rats, now everyone wants them.

SNAKEBYTES
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g...

_____

Well, it does make sense...these rats are similar to what you would find in a wild caught snake's natural environment... meaning they may be more appealing for a picky eater...for example how do you think we would do if suddenly we were captured and forced to eat dog food? Get what I mean.. I'm sure we would break (rational thought process gotta love it) before a snake would but balls don't seem to do so well in foreign surroundings. I just hope people use extreme caution while using these rats ...and use them only when necessary
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we're here because a hobby became an obsession... if only every one had this much fun

some days your the dog, some days your the hydrant...don't know who started this saying but it's the truth

rats and mice cannot interbreed. they might be able to be crossed with other rats but not with mice
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Sign of the Serpent

I'm just curious about why you're not selling females? Is there a legal reason that you can't sell females? Or are you just protecting your exclusive source?

Mark

>>We have a colony of african soft furred rats. If you are interested in live you can check out our site for upcoming shows we will be at. Check back often, we are always adding more dates.
>>
>>Frozen can be ordered through our site
>>
>>www.feedersplus.com
>>716-481-1771
>>
>>Do not contact us for females, we are NOT selling females

We are doing it to protect our market and also because they take just as long to be able to breed as regular rats even though they are the size of mice. We are using every female we produce to increase the size of our colony

Thanks
Justin
www.feedersplus.com
716-481-1771

Call for info about what show we are at. AND WE DONT SELL FEMALES EITHER!

Its not for a legal reason at all either it to protect my investment.

Bryan

219 743 3337

just a thought i read the aferican rodents of any kind was banned in the us for sale or other please explain?????
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1.2.0 ball python (aragorn, arwen,`eowyn)
1.0.0 100% het pied (frodo)
1.0.0 columbian boa (squiggles)
1.0.0 rat snake (alabastered)
0.1.0 corn snake (baby)
0.0.2 whites tree frog (trevor, kirmet)
0.0.5 pacific green tree frogs
3.2.0 cats (rockie, bs, brownie, lerrado, kole)
1.3.0 kids (dilyen, dakota, chyanne, sierra)
Brian n Chrissy
"snakes are kind of like potato chips, you cant have just one"