Underweight Snake, should I switch from mice to rats yet?

[jillofthejungle]

So I've had my bumblee Smaug for almost four years now. This past year, he went on an extended hunger strike. I wasn't worried that first month, but partway into the next, I started to wonder. His weight was ok, so no panic yet. Third month into the strike, he started dropping weight. Went to the vet to see if anything was wrong - nothing the vet could find, and he didn't want to try force-feeding just yet, after I told the vet I had plans to change his tank to a larger size and see if that helped. His original set up was 30x12x12, so not really small, and temps/humidity were all fine. I did notice my UTH had gone out recently, but that was in the last week prior to the vet visit. Changed his setup (bought most everything at Reptile Basics) and within in a week of being in this new tank, he was displaying that he was hungry.

When I got him, he was eating pinky mice (and we moved up from there). I eventually transitioned him to rat fuzzies and rat pups long before the hunger strike - he was on weaned & small rats (depending on size) when he went off feed. When he showed me he was ready to eat, I tried a weaned rat and he didn't want that. But he immediately took up the large mouse and, just so happy that he finally ate, I offered him a second, which he immediately took as well. Last night, about 2 weeks from the last feeding (tried a week after to get him to take a rat, no luck, so I thought I'd leave him a week) I tried a rat again, he refused it, but did take two mice again.

From the hunger strike, he's lost about 100g - he was about 800g before. I can see his backbone just a bit, but he appears and acts healthy otherwise. First and foremost, I want him to be healthy and get back to a healthy weight. Secondly, I want to eventually get him back on rats again, but I'm not sure how to proceed from here. Would it be better to get him back to his original weight any way possible (currently two mice every other week, or more often if he wants to eat), try to transition him back to rats (maybe a mouse and a rat pup in one feeding?), or try and get him back on rats ASAP?

Any suggestions/advice would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

1/ Feed what works if mice work feed mice.

2/ Going larger when it comes to enclosure never solved any feeding problems. The opposite however can.

3/Never force or assist an animal that knows are to eat and if the vet even suggest it, change vet

Not all animals eat on a weekly basis some will be picky so long he does eat feed him and if it mice feed him mice, does not matter so long you feed adult mice and he takes them.

It's a BP it's not abnormal and people forget they are very efficient.



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[redshepherd]

The way I switch to rats is asking for a dirty bag of mouse aspen from the pet store, full of mouse scent and poop in it, and then rolling around the thawed rat in it to coat it with a heavy scent. And then heat the rat/blowdry/dunk in very warm water, and offer right away. That has worked the best for me.

That's what I would try first... If he still refuses the rat, I'd give him a small mouse first, and then offer that same mouse-scented-rat again right after and see if he takes.

I'd personally try all the options first to get him back on rats.

^ Also, switching them to a larger enclosure is more likely to cause feeding problems. The opposite, switching them to a smaller enclosure or an enclosure with more hides, is more likely to solve it.