Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a one year old male BP. He has been eating 2 f/t jumbo mice per feeding and I am now trying to switch him over to rats. He has always been a solid eater though not aggressive per se. He doesn't strike the second I drop food in. I put him in a rubbermaid with his dinner and come back in an hour and its gone. So, of course he's going to get all stubborn on me eating a rat! Here's what I have already done:

First tried regular feeding habits

Put rat and snake in paper bag for overnight

He doesn't like it when I make the rat look like its moving with tongs...he just gets very skittish.

Next I am going to rub a mouse on the rat to try and scent it. Also, I only make an attempt once a week so that he doesn't stress. If someone could post a laundry list of ideas I'd appreciate it. It will give me more tricks for the coming weeks. Thanks!
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I feed all of mine f/t off hemostats so I'm not sure if this will work for you or not ...

I pick up a rat (of appropriate size) and small hopper mouse with the stats. Pick them up side by side - show the mouse side to the snake but right when they are getting ready to strike turn it so they strike and grab the rat - 9 times out of ten they'll eat the rat and after a couple of feedings they are converted.

Given that you don't use stats - I would probably try rubbing down the rat really good with the mouse if that doesn't work try rubbing down the rat with the mouse and then hiding the mouse in the bag under a rat (heat up the rat a little hotter than the mouse). You could even try sprinkling the rat with mousey hairs. Some people have used cotton thread and have tied rats to the mice to get them to eat the rats.

If you can't get him converted to rats don't worry about it - he'll do fine on mice - just be happy he is feeding!!!!
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Tosha
JET Pythons