Switching from live to f/t

[kyle13404]

Im trying to switch my baby albino to f/t rat fuzzies. I thaw out the rats and when i offer him the rat, he strikes instantly as if it was live and he constricts. Then after he is done constricting, he just leaves the rat there and shows no interest in eating it. He has done this multiple times. What else could i try?

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Do it at night time. Once he strikes - walk away and leave him alone in the dark for an hour.

[kyle13404]

Would it be better to feed him in his enclosure instead of feeding him in a separate container?

[PitOnTheProwl]

There is no reasont to move him for feeding except to complicate matters more.
To answer your question..... STOP moving your snake to feed especially when you are already changing the food source.

[chrisv]

a few suggestions:

1) make sure your rat is warm enough. After warming my frozen rodents in a bucket of water, I pat them dry with a paper towel and hit them with a hair drier set to medium. (hint, measure the temperature, they are colder than you would expect even after you have warmed them for a long time.) They should be at least 98 degrees. I typically try to get mine to an abdominal temp of 98 and get the head a little hotter, 101-102F.

2) while the rat is constricted, tug on him a little bit with your feeding tongs. this seems to get the snake in to "#### no, you're not getting away from me, you are my dinner" mode.

3) I agree, feed in the dark and leave the room/be quiet


4) Leave the rat in the enclosure overnight. (Please don't forget about it the next day)