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Trying to switch over to rats

iggygirl6 Oct 07, 2003 07:38 AM

I have a female bp who is about 9 months old and about 3 feet long. I'm trying to switch her over to rats. I have been feeding her two adult mice every 7 days. I tried giving her a small rat (about the length of two adult mice) and she sniffed it, but refused to eat it. I tried scenting the rat with a mouse, but that didn't work either. I hope that I'm not trying to feed her prey that is too big. The rat is no wider than the widest part on her body, so I don't think that it is too big to eat. Are there any other ways to get her to eat rats, other than wait it out, and she'll eat when she's good and hungry?

Thanks in advance!

Replies (4)

ericthemantis Oct 07, 2003 09:04 AM

That's a good question. I 'm having the same problem.

>>I have a female bp who is about 9 months old and about 3 feet long. I'm trying to switch her over to rats. I have been feeding her two adult mice every 7 days. I tried giving her a small rat (about the length of two adult mice) and she sniffed it, but refused to eat it. I tried scenting the rat with a mouse, but that didn't work either. I hope that I'm not trying to feed her prey that is too big. The rat is no wider than the widest part on her body, so I don't think that it is too big to eat. Are there any other ways to get her to eat rats, other than wait it out, and she'll eat when she's good and hungry?
>>
>>Thanks in advance!

jmartin104 Oct 07, 2003 09:21 AM

This is normally how I change from mice to rats:

1) I start out feeding my hatchlings rat pups whenever I can. Thus, there is no changeover.

2) I feed mice (for mice feeders) up until the winter fast. Once the winter fast ends - the snakes are starting to get hungry - I offer a very small rat of the same color. Sometimes it takes a while of doing this but eventually, they convert - hunger gets the best of them.

Good luck!
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Jay A. Martin

Finnigan Oct 07, 2003 11:33 AM

www.proexotics.com/FAQ_answers_switch_from_mice_to_rats.html
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3.6.3 Leopard Geckos (1.4.3 Albino)
~~25 Leo eggs cookin'~~
1.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 African Fat Tail Gecko
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Blair's Phase Gray Banded Kingsnake

DenverTom Oct 07, 2003 12:11 PM

I begin offering rats that are the same size as the mice it has been eating. At this age, you shouldn't have any troubles getting it switched over.

good luck
Denver Tom

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