Did I screw up? (Mice and rats)

[MixtSpice]

So today, I saw Rooples exploring her tank so I had a feeling that she was hungry. I usually feed her on Saturdays when the place I get feeders from is open but I wanted to feed her today because, well, she was hungry! Plus, I have to work Saturday and Sunday during the hours that they're open. So, I went to Petco and bought the smallest adult mouse they had since its the same size as a rat fuzzy.

She ate it no problem but I realized that now, she may end up a mouser. Which isn't a big deal but I'd prefer to feed her rats. Did I screw up by feeding her a mouse?

Obviously, I won't know for sure until next weekend but I was wondering if you guys could possibly help. I know many people have problems switching from mice to rats and I'm worried my stupid self just did the opposite.

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[piedlover79]

I have a gal that does both no problem. I have a boy that went on a six month hunger strike until I tried mice (he had eaten rats until then). You never really can tell, each snake is different.

[MixtSpice]

I have a gal that does both no problem. I have a boy that went on a six month hunger strike until I tried mice (he had eaten rats until then). You never really can tell, each snake is different.

That's what I figured, I'll just have to wait and feed her a rat fuzzy next week. Wasn't sure if anyone else had an experience like mine

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[piedlover79]

Yeah, kinda a 'time will tell', but ball pythons are famous for being picky even if you do every thing *perfect*. I wouldn't worry too much. It's a victory every time they eat (at least I feel that way).

[voodoolamb]

I've feed ASFs, rats, and mice to the same snake with no problem.

[Scythe]

Some snakes have no problem going back and fourth between rats or mice. Personally I try to always avoid feeding my snakes mice because an adult mouse is a lot dirtier than a rat pup would be because they have been alive longer dwelling in their cage and defecating etc.

[cchardwick]

I have about 20 snakes and feed frozen thawed, fresh killed, ASFs, rats and mice to all my snakes and they are getting to the point where they are all taking just about anything now. I think they like the variety. I had a bumble bee that would only take live mice or live rat pups, I finally got him to take frozen thawed and fresh killed now, still fusses over frozen thawed sometimes but is getting better with frozen thawed and fresh killed. Even my small babies are taking frozen thawed regularly (I feed twice a week). Personally I don't like to feed live adult mice or live adult rats unless I absolutely have to, just too risky for my snakes. Every now and then you'll see one eyed snakes for sale - mouse damage! I'll even let them skip a meal or two before I'll feed a dangerous rodent like that and will only do it if it's a breeder female that refuses to eat frozen thawed / fresh killed and I'm trying to get weight on. And usually after one or two live mice they will go back on frozen thawed.

I still have one male pied ball python that will only take live rat pups, refuses anything else and even a live mouse he kind of ignores and it scares me that the mouse might bite him, actually I think he was bit by a mouse and that's why he only takes rat pups now. He's a strange one... Also, with frozen thawed I think it's essential to get the temperature perfect before feeding, seems to really help keep them eating frozen thawed. I thaw them out overnight in the fridge and then put them in an incubator at 110F for at least an hour, and not more than 2 hours unless it's a really big rat (I feel them to make sure they are warm all the way through). And I take only one rodent out of the incubator at a time to feed to keep them the perfect temp when I go from snake to snake. Seems to be working like a charm. If you can get them over to frozen thawed it really is a lot easier to just thaw, warm and feed any time you want.