Need some more tips...

[Ham]

Just wanted to know what you guys think I should do to switch my ball python from mice to small frozen thawed rats...

She has been so picky about her food, she only eats thawed mice, when a thawed rat goes near her she totally gets snooty and turns away immediately and heads the other direction, like she hates the smell!

She has always eaten very well, only refused food once the whole time I have had her, except when she refuses the rats, but as soon as a mouse is offered afterwards she will take it immediately. She is at the size now, I need to feed her 3 extra large mice to satisfy her, (I always get these frozen mice that are pregnant, they are pretty large for mice)

What should I do to convince her rats are better?

PS I have even tried scenting the rats with mouse fur and bedding etc...

[dr del]

Hi,

I have a male that occasionally eats small rats but would eat mice all day.

I don't mind feeding him two mice at a time and on this schedule he eventually eats rats for another little while then decides it's mouse time again.

But if you are dead set on pressing her to change I suppose there are a few q's.

When she refuses the rat do you try tough love and not offer any mice and make her wait for the next feeding day?

As long as her weight is good a couple of missed meals will do her no harm.



dr del

[Ham]

I will try this out thanks!

I just have a hard time makin her go hungry, so I just always gave in and offered mice afterwards...

[stevepoppers]

Yeah, why would she eat the rats if she knows you'll just give her the mice? You have to wait them out in a lot of cases. Don't feel bad, either. These aren't like other snakes. Some just don't eat for a year because they feel like it. They shut down lots of organs to conserve energy.

[Crazy4Herps]

Been there, done that! I've got the pickiest female ball who flat out refuses rats.

Anyways, I will third what has been said. As long as you're giving her a choice, she will choose mice. Take away that choice, offering only rats, and she'll eventually realize that she's hungry.