Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I bought a very expensive pair of Het Lavender Balls. I got them right from the egg. The guy I bought them from started them on Mice Hoppers. When I received them I tried rats with no luck. So I have been buying mice from the local pet store at 2.00 bucks a piece...OUCH. Well tonight I put in a rat pup eyes closed and the snake just ignored the rat completely. The snake acted like it was not there. So I pulled out the pup and put in a small tupperware container full of very stinky used mouse bedding for about 30 minutes. I pulled out the pup and I smelled it and it smelled just like a mouse. I put in the pup back with the ball and the ball nailed it in under 10 seconds. Wow, it does work. I had never tried it and I am so blown away. I have 6 other balls that will only eat mice so I will try to feed the other snakes scented rats on Tuesday.

Regards,
Mark
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STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Hello,

I fed two more snakes last night that have never taken a rat and they both ate rats after I scented them. Several did not, but I am not giving up that easy. One of my female balls almost appears to afraid of the larger size rats.

Mark
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STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Hey,

Well here I am. Last week I had 8 ball pythons that would only eat Mice. After learning how to scent my rats, I now have 4 balls that will only eat mice. 50 percent less is good to me. I scented the hell out of a couple rat weanlings yesterday and I tried offering them to the 4 ball pythons. Not one of them seemed interested. As soon as I put an actual mouse back in they hit them immediately. Is there anything else I can do? Or just keep doing the scenting each week. Obviously it is a visual thing because these rats smelled just like mouse. The other possibility is that there is a smell the rat gives off and they do not like it. I may try doing it next week in total darkness. And if that does not work I will try a smaller rat. And if that does not work I will try an all white rat. I have been feeding them albino mice so maybe........? If anyone has any tricks please share.

Thanks,
Mark
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STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

'Nother way to try is to feed a mouse prekilled with a rat pup chaser. Often when I try to switch mouse eaters I just offer both at the same meal. Also works to offer a prekilled mouse with a live rat fuzzy. All depends on the prey sizes needed.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

Hi Sonya,

It is all coming together. I just fed the most finicky snake today. This was the one that I thought was going to never switch. I took a 2 1/2 week old rat about 30 grams. Basically the same size of the mice I have been feeding. I scented the rat for about 10 mins and stuck it in. Bang....The snake took it just as fast as the mice. I am so blown away. I really think I have learned how to get my mice eaters to switch. I still have a few to go, but I think I have the info needed on a successful switch. Thanks for all the help to everyone. One other thing is that I have been trying to breed mice and it looks like the colony ate off all the babies like you told me about Sonya. I never saw any babies but all the females where huge and than the all looked small again and when I looked there were no babies in sight. They all look pregnant again and we will see.....Fingers crossed...

Mark
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STRENGTH IN NUMBERS