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Q:
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Switching from mice to small rats
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In Relation To:
Midna
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I have a slight problem, nothing too major. Midna is starting to get bigger, so I decided to switch her from mice to small rats (F/T of course). Anywho, She showed some interest in the rat, but she didn't strike. She just got near it and sort of licked it a couple of times. She was eating one mouse every Tuesday like a champ, as you can see in her tracking.. but I don't really know how to go about switching her to small rats. I know they smell differently.. do you think I should rub a rat against a F/T mouse? Or should I just continue feeding her mice, and just give her more than one at a time? I've heard that that's not such a good idea.
The small rat was the perfect size too, the same size as the biggest part of her body. The hubby thought that maybe she was a big scared by it...
What do you guys think?
Any and all advice is welcome. :)
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Member Comment
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4/29/2010 12:51:57 PM
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JohnJohn
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This is probably the most common question on every herp forum. There have been lots of postings here about it, so I recommend going to the archives here and finding some of those posts. There will be lots of good advice there.
It can be a huge pain in the ass to get them to switch. Sometimes they do it easily and sometimes not. You just have to keep trying.
I have a carpet python that just simply won't eat rats. I tried everything and eventually gave up. Now she eats a pile of mice (about 6-8 jumbo mice) every feeding and so feeding her is a pain in the ass. So far I've gotten by BPs all switched to FT rats pretty easily. My own personal challenge right now is my Blood Python. She is extremely picky and so far will only eat mice and only live! I hate feeding live. Uuuggghhhh. I've got a big job ahead someday to get her switched over to rats and hopefully FT.
The one thing I would say is just keep trying.
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Member Comment
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4/29/2010 1:33:05 PM
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Sonja K. Reptiles
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Chances are a small rat is bigger than the mouse it was eating - even if it looks the perfect size. I typically go with a weanling size rat - maybe even a pup? - when I''m attempting to switch. Too much size difference CAN be intimidating to some.
Something to try....
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Member Comment
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4/29/2010 1:49:11 PM
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BirchbarkBoas
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Feed a small mouse and stuff a baby rat in right behind it. :)
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Assisted Answer
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4/29/2010 5:05:20 PM
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Carusima
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What I did to get my girl to switch was use a F/t mouse and run it along her tub. It got her all riled up, smelling and seeing that mouse, but being too far away from it to just snap. So as she would come over to the side of the tub where she smelled mouse, I quickly took it out, grabbed a small rat, stuck it back in, and as soon as she saw the "heat" come back she struck and ate it just fine. Now she eats rats everytime. I've also tried rubbing the mouse on the rat pink/pup, tease feeding, or going a few feedings without giving food and then trying. Feeding more than one mouse at a time is no problem? I don't know who told you that. If she can handle two mice, then you should of bumped her up awhile ago. If it doesn't look like she can physically handle two adult mice, then try two small mice. Or an adult mouse and a hopper.
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Accepted Answer
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4/29/2010 6:28:38 PM
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Herpetological_Girl
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When we were switching my cousin's ball from mice to rats I asked a guy at the local show what the best way to do it was, and he said to thaw them both together in the same bag so that the rat has a mousy scent to it. He ate it with no problem and has been eating rats for well over a month now :) He's only 7mo old! We're very proud of him lol
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Author Comment
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4/29/2010 9:48:05 PM
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Darkdazeys
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Thanks, guys, I'll take your advice. The only thing with feeding rat pups is that I can't find any place that sells F/t pups. The smallest rat I could find was a young adult and it IS bigger than the mice I've been feeding her, so she may just very well be intimidated by it. I'll look at le archives for some more advice, just in case this advice doesn't work.
Thanks again!
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