Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just wondering why no one breeds any of the listed below rodents for their wild caught or picky captive breed eaters.

African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus); black rat
(Rattus rattus rattus and R. r. alexandrinus); kusus rat (Arvicanthis niloticus); rufous-bellied
rat (Lophuromys sikapusi); shaggy rat (Dasymys incomtus); spotted grass mouse
(Lemniscomys striatus); shining thicket rat (Thamnomys rutilans); Fox’s brush-furred rat
(Uranomys foxi); Tullberg’s rat (Praomys tullbergi); multimammate rat (Mastomys
natalensis); long-tailed target rat (Stochomys longicaudatus); and, pygmy mouse (Mus
musculoides).

All of the above listed rodents are from the same area in Africa were ball pythons are found. I have not looked into it further then this. However I would think this would fix the “my ball not eating” many people are having. I don’t know if there available here in the U.S. but I’m sure they can be tracked down. I’m going to try and locate some pairs for myself if available and breed them to feed to some of my picky females.

What do you guys think? Has anyone tried or done this already?

Thanks,
James W. Arnold

I've heard of people doing it....I almost did it myself...but they are like $10 a piece and its just too much trouble...I use the normal ways of getting picky eaters to eat. I know if my snakes are in trouble of not eating and usually by the time they may be....they start eating anyway.
Its a good idea though....let us know how it turns out.
Best of Luck.

Luke

There were a # of cases of monkey pox in people here in the midwest last year tied to the exposure of imported african rodents sold as pets. Consequently the USDA banned the importation of same into the U.S. So don't be surprised if your search comes up cold. But good luck, and don't forget those gerbils! SJM

Balls fast, that's what they do. Why mess with that by bringing a rat indigenous to Africa for your CB ball that's never seen, smelled, or tasted one? Seems a bit extreme, might as well switch to gerbils or hamsters (easier to get, cheaper, etc.)

Balls fast, that's what they do. Why mess with that by bringing a rat indigenous to Africa for your CB ball that's never seen, smelled, or tasted one? Seems a bit extreme, might as well switch to gerbils or hamsters (easier to get, cheaper, etc.)

I did agree to that statement up until yesterday when I posted my message. I think instinct has a big role in this. I may be taking it to the extreme a little, but how do they know they don’t like beef jerky as their food? If that’s all you offered from birth would they eat it? What if you only offered them tofu? Would they eat it? No, they would not. This bringing me to the idea that using a native rodent from their area would be more readily accepted as food then says the common rats or mice we use here.

Thanks,
James W. Arnold

Hey, I suppose it's worth a shot. let us know how this works out for you.

I have been using Natal Multimammate Rats as feeders for my BP's for about 12 months, and find that they are taken more readily by W/c's than any other rodent. We started off with just one pair and are now over-run with them, even after feeding about twenty rats per week. Once they start breeding they don't stop, and are producing - on avereage - 12 young every three weeks.

That's Great. I was looking into them they have good litters and seem to breed easily from you post. Where could I pick some up?

Thanks,
James W. Arnold

If you live in the UK, there's no problem. If you live in the States, there is apparently a lack of this type of rat. Why? I don't know. Perhaps it is a Government decision.

They work that good.. Hmmmm Where can one find them ??

They have bottled mouse scent.. Why not gerbil?

Not sure about the availablility or benefits of the other rat/mice species mentioned in your post, but I do know that pigmy mice would be way to small for even baby pythons. An adult pigmy mouse isn't much bigger than a 2-3 week old fancy mouse. they are also not easy to breed in captivity, I think.

The best way to deal with finiky eaters for the novice is avoiding wild caught ball pythons, buying captive breed instead. This way they are already feeding on fancy mice or rats.