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How do you go about switching babies that have outgrown small mice fuzzies and hoppers to rat pups?The reason i ask is because here recently i have had an overwhelming breeding frenzy with the rats and the mice have slowed down production.All of the baby boas and pythons i have are fully capable of eating rat pups but wont even consider looking at them but will eat small mice readily. Any suggestions would be helpful. Regards Bill McLeod

Have you tried scenting the rats with mice? Feeding at night and leaving them in there until AM? Small container? Sometimes it just takes a couple of weeks of trying before they will take it. We usually try rats for 2 weeks if they don't eat them then we try the tricks and there are alot of tricks to try. Hope this helps some.

Danni
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Jason & Danni
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I tried the scenting method and they seem to be interested but then they just turn away.I guess their smarta$$e$$.Anyway my other ? is this.I know that some snakes are just that stubborn but would it be alright to wait maybe a week or 2 and get them real hungry and try that?Theres one thing about this idea though that really bothers me and thats the idea of them just refusing food period.I've only been successful with 2 so far,1 of my baby redtail boas and a baby dumerils boa other than that its a no go.I dont want to get them to the point of not eating because that wouldnt be a good thing but just to the point of maybe wanting to try something different.Oh and i'm not just talking boas,i mean pythons as well like bloods,ammies,carpets,and burms.Oh and a baby b/p as well. Regards Bill McLeod

I always starve 'em first. hehehe
that is of course, given that they have perfect body weight.
Tried it the first time with my BRB, gave him four weeks, and he snapped that baby right up. Then I tried it with my BP, same thing. Recently tried it with my Cay Caulkers (used to live and were a small pain to get to eat FT the first time and didn't want to stress them out with being so insistent the second time), and they too, snapped it right up after about 2.5 weeks of not eating.

If you're really worried, scent the rat too. I always rubbed the butt of the mouse on the rat all over the place (lots of scent glands).

The reason I had to do this the first time is because I was VERY ambitious and wanted to switch from live mice, to FT rats. After trying the starving method for various times, I have to say it's my favorite! But again, don't do it if they aren't of good weight.

Good luck Bill!
JB
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Jonathan Brady
My Kingsnake Photo Gallery

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Jonathan Brady
My Kingsnake Photo Gallery

Deland,Leesburg,and other parts of that area are nice places to visit.A friend of mine lives in Leesburg.Alot of gorgeous women around there so enjoy lol. Regards Bill McLeod

A LOT of beautiful women here. :-D Soon as I get over being shy, I'll be sure to talk to them, lol.
Later Bill!
JB
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Jonathan Brady
My Kingsnake Photo Gallery

hehe well Bill, Jason didn't write that, I did. But anyway, when I said sometimes it just takes a few weeks, I meant just try giving them the rats and not giving in and feeding them what they want. I should have explained, sorry about that. I knew what I meant....LOL. JB is right, waiting until they are good and hungry won't hurt them as long as they have good body weight. Usually redtails are not a problem, we have very few that after a 2 weeks of not eating won't take a rat, same with burms. It suprises me that a feeding burm won't take a rat. After we got our baby burm going, she would eat anything...LOL. I would try waiting and see what happens, you might be suprised. (that's if they have good body weight) If they don't have enough body weight, try braining the rats. Not a very pleasent experience but it works sometimes. And when we have alot of snakes refusing to eat, we brain one and rub it on the others, this saves alot of icky. Hope this helps, sorry I should have explained better in my previous post, I am usually so long winded....LOL

Danni
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Jason & Danni
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SMILE SMILE

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