Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my boa took mice fine for several months but now that it is larger I want to switch to rats but it refuses to take them. what should i do?

I posted about it earlier this morning.
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=463653,463653

That tells how I did it. It worked pretty well for me. Only took 2 tries to get her fully switched over. Good luck!
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David - Houston, TX
Young Red Tail Boa
Purchased 11/16/03
www.geocities.com/davidag02

wow!!! not only did it work but when I stuck the rat in he pounded it!!! I'm really shocked. I heard your idea before and was skeptical but boy was I wrong! Thanks alot.

Hello!This is always been a matter that I really never understood completely!We are all concerned with our boas well being watching their temps an humidity an all of the basic husbandry!Watching how much an what size of prey item one is feeding their boa's!Now the confusing part[smiles]With all of the pampering we give our boa's,Why feed mice period?It is a proven fact that a rat is alot healthier for our Boa's than a mouse is!!Ive never fed my boa's mice,they have eaten rats since they were litle ones!For example you have been feeding your boa large mice right?And are now ready for the switch ok a weaned baby rat that is just ready to leave its mothers side is the same size as a mouse!When you get your boa to taking this size rat with no problems then move up to the propper size that you need to be feeding your boa!Offer it a PK RAT this usually will kick the feeding mode in with no problems then make the switch to frozen thawed!Hope this helps you,plus any input from anyone on this subject would be great!Thanks Charles[HYPOBOA]

Yes, I realize now that rats are much healthier for our boas than mice are. I realize now that boas never even need to touch a mouse their entire lives, and they would be better off for it. However, I didn't know that when I first bought my boa. The pet store said mice, so I fed mice. It wasn't until I went out of my way to get extra information by joining online forums and buying books on boas, that I learned about feeding rats and other ways to improve my husbandry techniques. That is why I am just now switching to rats. Believe me, I wish I had heard about this and made the switch months ago... but I didn't. So sue me... the important part is that I did end up making the switch, as well as improving other aspects of my husbandry that I was very naieve about when I first got my boa.
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David - Houston, TX
Young Red Tail Boa
Purchased 11/16/03
www.geocities.com/davidag02