big girl..Mouse eater..?

[SnowAngel]

Hey guys,

Looking for some expert advice!

I have recently purchased a female Het clown, shes roughly 1100 grams. Now the problem is....shes strictly a MOUSE eater and will not touch anything else live, f/t or f/k. I've tried muliple times to switch her to something bigger..but it's a major "no-go" for her!

I want to get her up to breeding size (not rushing it, but not dragging it out either!) in the near future, but am unsure how many mouse to feed her and how often to ensure she is getting enough food to put weight on at a decent rate.

Any tips?


Britany

and a picture of her for good measure!

[Jay_Bunny]

Well if you think about it, a small rat is somewhere between 50-80g. I feed all of my ball pythons smalls, including my breeding females. If you get large retired breeder mice, these are usually around 40g or so (at least my breeders are) so feeding 2 would be a decent meal IMO.

[maria1232]

im sure if you had searched it you would've gotten multiple hits on this one...i would say, get some rat pups, put them in with a mice, or roll them onto littered mice bedding so the smell gets on the mice and go from there, that way you'll trick her into eating the rat....or dangle the mouse above until you see her about to strike then switch for a rat

[SnowAngel]

im sure if you had searched it you would've gotten multiple hits on this one...i would say, get some rat pups, put them in with a mice, or roll them onto littered mice bedding so the smell gets on the mice and go from there, that way you'll trick her into eating the rat....or dangle the mouse above until you see her about to strike then switch for a rat

Ive tried a somewhat modified version of this, since I did find some similiar posts to work off of. I can't use any live rats since I live in Alberta, but I've tried senting both f/t rats and ASF's. She acts very interested at first smelling and starts to stalk it..then seems to catch drift of the fake out...and retreats.

I will try to dangling method though! haven't done that one yet
Thank you for the advice so far.

[rockhardchick666]

I can't use any live rats since I live in Alberta, but I've tried senting both f/t rats and ASF's.

I've just learned something new about my country.

[Big Gunns]

Although it's much easier to feed a larger BP rats(because you don't need as many), you can easily get your snake up to breeding size feeding mice. If you fed her 2 to 3 large adult mice a week she should be breeding size next year.

If you go to Pete Kahls facility on feeding day you'll notice that he has many large adult females that only eat live mice. Some are right next to siblings that eat rats, and they're around the same size.

In other words, if it works for Pete, there's really no need for you to worry about your snake eating mice.

BG has some, but he usually(not always) can get them to switch to rats. Pete just doesn't care(he does, but not much) and will feed mice if they want them.

[SnowAngel]

I've just learned something new about my country.

Alberta is considered a "Rat free" province. We are allowed to have live african soft furrs, but have to have regular rats shipped in FROZEN only...unless your looking for a hefty fine of course


Thanks Big Gunns!! that was definatly helpful and made me feel abit more confident about it. She really is a wonderful girl, and I can't wait to get her up to breeding size!

I breed my own feeders (both ASF and Mice) so it shouldn't be a problem giving her as many as she wants