Converting females food after laying

[BaierBalls]

I have an '09 female Mojave that has always been a picky eater. She got to a point where she would only eat a rat about once every three weeks to a month.

I became frusterated with this, so began offering her gerbils because I do have a source for them. She had been eating the gerbils every week for about 6 weeks and is sitting right now at about 1400g.

She has now decided to take a break from the gerbils as well, but she is getting close to the size I want her to be to breed this year.

My questions is... has anyone attempted to change a females type of food immidiately after laying a clutch?

I am asking because I have noticed females that I have bred in the past are always CHOW HOUNDS for the first few months after laying a clutch of eggs. I was thinking about breeding this female who is hooked on gerbils, and trying to get her back on rats by offering them as her first food source after she lays (IF she breeds and lays this year at all). I am hoping this might work due to how vigorous my other females are about eating after laying a clutch, although they had all been rat eaters all their lives (with me anyways). Theu always look like they would eat ANYTHING put in front of them

Has anyone tried this with any success?

[Annarose15]

I have switched two females now from live rats to F/T (never touched dead prey before). I waited a week after they laid, and that is all they have been offered since, with no issues.

[Hypnotic Exotic]

I've got my fingers crossed for the same reason. Hoping to switch over two animals if they lay next year. I've heard it works on some stubborn ones. These two have taken f/t but like your's they were very inconsistent and then turned their noses up altogether.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Best time to switch is after they lay in general they will eat anything however as it seems that you have a true finicky eater it does not mean she will eat better just a different food source.

Having a true picky eater is frustrating but the more animal you own the more you are bound to have one and trying alternative preys is rarely the solution.

I have a picky female that eats maybe 3 or 4 months out of the year that's just the way she is.

[BaierBalls]

I have a picky female that eats maybe 3 or 4 months out of the year that's just the way she is.

Does thay female retain enough weight breed?

[axeman569]

I have a female that wouldn't eat rats. She would eat mice or ASF rats prior to laying. Since then I have only fed her rats. She hasn't passed on a meal yet. In a month and a half, she has put her weight back on. Now, hopefully she stays on rats.