Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello guys,
I recently switched both of my snakes from mice to rats. My Okeetee hasnt eaten in 2 weeks because he was shedding. My amel has eaten these rats twice. Tonight was feeding night and I was confident that they were both going to eat. Unfortunatly, they both did not. I wouldn't think it was strange if just one didnt eat, but the fact that my Amel refused after 2 weeks of being fed them worries me. I tried putting the Okeetee in a covered container alone with it for about 30 mins. I exposed the brains for the Amel, but they both still did not eat. My mom vacuumed about 45 mins before that, but it's never effected them before. I have absolutely no idea what this could be. Thank you very much for any help!
~Tyler
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No, we're never gonna quit,Ain't nothin' wrong with it,Just actin' like we're animals - Nickelback, Animals

Just a bit of back ground on me. I help an old friend at his shop 2 days a week. We sell 1500 mice-pinks mice a week, and what ever rats.

I always try to get people to try rat pups if the corn is of good size. What you experience is not all that uncommon. Snakes eat 2-3 times then stop on the rats.

No idea why. They almost always will reaccept mice though. Then might take rats later again. I always tell people to try to change food types in very late spring thru mid summer when a snake is more likely to eat anything.

Possible causes. Just my opinions.
1. Rats vary in smell. Cage condition, bedding, even food.
2. How hungry was the snake? If very hungry more likely to strike on movement.
3. They just want mice again.

How to help in transition if having trouble.
1. Try f/t or live. Some like one over the other.
2. Get your rat, and ask for a hand full of mouse bedding in the bag/box. Give it a little time to pick up the odor.
2b. Wash the rat and dry well, then place in mouse bedding.
3. Just wash the rat. Sometimes just the rat odor is enough to turn them off. A more neutral odor can actually be good.
4. If you really really want them on rats, and it is large enough for a good meal, feed a small mouse. As it is finishing the snake almost always has its head up in the air. Hold a f/t or fresh killed rat pup just in front of the snake (trying to keep your had low, out of site,,, or use forceps) and as it opens its mouth, just get the head of the rat pup in its mouth.

After a few times try a rat pup. They seem to get use to eating it that way. If it fails, do the feed trick again, but this time hold the rat pup long enough so the snake has a fairly good hold on the rat. Then wiggle ever so slightly. Not to scare it, but to make the snake constrict the rat pup. You can also use bedding for scenting a little and decrease it the more times you use it. Let him pass a meal time a little. An extra 3-4 days of hunger can be a good motivator.

Good luck
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Thanks for reading.
Big Tom

www.herpzilla.com

everything that toms says is spot on.
im not sure where you live but climates are getting colder and some snakes react to this. outside they would be in brumation right now or at least getting ready for it. could be the problem.
adam jeffery
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"CARLOS MENCIA FOR EL PRESIDENTE"
hybrid breeders association
1.1 puebladurans
1.1 sinacorns
1.1 hypo corns
1.1 crimson corns
1.1 striped ghosts
1.1 kenyan sand boas
1.1 mbk
1.1 albino corns
1.1 childrens python
1.3 ghost corns
2.2 butter(both females motley)
1.0 snow corns
1.0 jurassic milk
1.0 house snake
0.1 anery pueblacorn
0.1 bloodred
0.1 eastern milk (eatin pinks)
0.1 striped albino corn
0.1 albino nelsons
0.1 anery motley
0.1 normal corn het hypo,anery
0.1 hypo tang hondo
0.1 rosy boa

I have two '06's that I was forcing and they were doing poorly until one day I had some small rat pinks that I threw in the container with them for the heck of it. When I checked back both had eaten the rats even though the pups were twice the diameter of the snake, their first meal ever. These snakes will only take rat pups, and have caught up to the other 06's that I have.
I have another that will only take gerbils. A bunch of 07's that had not eaten quikly took tuna scented pinks. I think some snakes are just more picky about what they want to eat.

OK thank you all very much. Next year they will be in brumation, but even after two years of owning them I dont trust myself. Im going out tonight to get a whole light unit for one cage. While Im at it I think Im going to pick up a mouse for the Okeetee and then work on the Amel. Thanks again! I'll keep you updated.
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No, we're never gonna quit,Ain't nothin' wrong with it,Just actin' like we're animals - Nickelback, Animals