Switched some mousers to rats! Still some to do.

[hungba]

As my snake collection grew from 1 to 13 within 7 months (LOL) I had gotten some problem feeders. I have two smaller snakes (under 500 grams), that for some reason decided to go on only f/t mice, no interest in f/t rats. I kept offering rats to no avail.

They were not losing weight, so I skipped two feedings, really skipped. Not offered two feedings and have them not eat, just not offered for two weeks.

Then I simply scented a f/t rat with a f/t mouse and offered. Both snapped it up immediately. One week later, they ate f/t rats too. YAY!

I still have 3 bigger snakes (over 1000 grams) that have problems. One had not eated at ALL since I got her a couple months ago. I tried a f/t mouse left in the tub and she ate it last week. This week she is in shed, so we will see next week.

One had eaten 1 rat when I got her, then went in shed, and thereafter refused all food. She seems scared when I offer food, but won't eat when left in the tub either. This went on for about 3 months. She started losing weight, lost 100 grams, so I decided to offer a f/t mouse tonight, and she ate it. At least I got her to eat again! I don't mind the expense of buying more mice for her, but I tried offering a second one and she would not eat it. She is 1100 gram and I thought I would try another one because the mouse she ate was only about 60 grams. In fact, NONE of my snakes would take a second mouse or rat. I wonder how people offer a second one when they are sort of in between prey sizes so you want to feed two of the smaller ones etc?

Last one ate really well but decided to stop a month ago. I got her to eat again with a mouse as well. But this week she refused any food, mouse nor mouse scented rat.

I have also noticed that my smaller snakes that are less than 1000 grams would take the meal immediately, sometimes shooting out of the tub when opened just from the room smelling like rat. However, the larger ones 1000+ grams take FOREVER even when they are willing to eat. I have to dangle and dangle and move the rat around for 15 to 20 minutes, thinking they won't eat, then suddenly they would eat. How come? Is this normal?

Also, the one that had not eaten at all and ate a mouse last week ate it with me just leave in the tank. Are some snakes more nervous than others and do better WITHOUT you dangling the prey? And just leave it in there?