Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The switch from mice to rats is usually tedious, but I have a severe case of a picky eater.

My JCP is to the size now where she should be eating small rats, but... she won't. Mice is all she takes and that seems to be that. I have tried all the tricks I know to get her to swallow a rat with no success. It is strange, but she will strike a rat, wrap it up momentarily, then release it. No matter how much I scent the rat with mouse she will not take it. I am desperate for ideas, can anyone help?

Have you tried following a mouse with a rat? You probably have, but just checking.
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Eryx - All the fun of a boa in a convenient pocket size!

I have a JCP and was fortunate she switched with no problems. I've read that some JCP will not switch...ever. When I tried mine on small rats at first she grabed it then let go as if to say "that's not what I normally get" but she did eventually eat it. Once she started on rats I have never given her another mouse. I think what I did also is let her get good an hungry. I waited for at least 10-14 days to try to feed her the rat. Have you tried this??

Here's a list of what I have done so far:

-Scented up a live rat with mouse bedding and live mice
-Let the snake go hungry for a week before trying the rat
-Feeding a live mouse, then immediately following with a live rat
-Feeding a live mouse, after it is dead, switching the mouse with a scented rat
-Feeding a live mouse, when she is just about to swallow the mouse, sticking the rat head in so she would "continue" to swallow

I have had some positive signs with the last method, but it has never been affective. I hope my JCP switches, I don't want to feed 20 mice at a time to her when she's six foot.

I wonder if snakes can see color and if you try a white rat. Most feeder mice are white so if you try a white rat...what have you got to loose...:0)

tried white rats and colored rats
maybe i'll have to use chicks or hamsters or something exotic