Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a pair of 2 year old jungle carpet pythons. For the past 6 months or so I have tried to switch them to rats. I've had them for two years and they've been fed on frozen thawed mice. This is what I've tried: I've offered them f/t rats and they turn their heads away as if the rats are disgusting or revolting. I've tried rinsing the rats off with water and rubbing them with mice. I've tried washing the rats off with soapy water and soaking them in water used to thaw out mice. I've tried using rats that have been scented with mouse bedding. The only thing that has somewhat worked for my male is that I've fed him a mouse and as he reaches the end of the mouse, I've slipped him a rat right after the mouse's behind. Sometimes he'll continue swallowing and he'll eat the rat. Sometimes he'll spit up the mouse he's been swallowing. Anyways, I've been real frustrated trying to switch them over. Any other suggestions?

It would be easier and probably more economical if I could switch them over to rats. However is it too late to switch my jcp's over to rats? Should I give up and just be content feeding them a whole mess of mice?

Thanks in advance for any comments or suggestions.

I'd guess that you'll still be able to make the transition. As long as your snakes are in good health to begin with, just keep their habitat warm and let them get good and hungry. I'd wait a couple of extra weeks past their next "regularly scheduled" feeding date and then offer them a rat. If they don't take it, no food for another two weeks then try again, etc. Here's the rub: you are likely to feel sorry for the snakes and feed them long before they get hungry enough to eat something as far down their list of things they like to eat as a rat. Snakes have a very low metabolism unless they are digesting prey, so they can live quite a long time between feedins. My JCP always fasts in the winter, sometimes for five or six months. During the fast, she loses almost no weight. You see what you are up against. It took me a few months to make the transition with mine, and she still doesn't eat every time I offer her food, but there is only one thing on the menu. Rat - It's what's for dinner.

Good luck

Another tip is to try 'superheating' the rat. I do this by basically floating the rat in the hottest water that will come out of the tap. (Leaving it in a plastic bag, typically.) I will do this until I can pick it up and not feel any cold spots whatsoever in the rat. The rat should feel as though it's the same temp as the water.

That may stimulate a feeding response for you. Oddly, carpets sometimes seem to almost have an aversion to the taste of rats, which sounds odd, but I can't vouch for the difference in taste between mouse and rat... Not really in a hurry to try that one out for myself. *grin*

My suggestion should you acquire anymore carpets is start them on rats from day one. Rat pinks all the way up to large. Of my three, all of them take rats everytime, and that's how I did it.