Rat feeders.

For those who feed live small to medium rats do you add anything for them to chew on like woodblocks to dull their teeth and limit the damage if they were to bite one of my snakes.I have 2 snakes that i gave up trying to feed F/T.

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Originally Posted by Marc from CT

For those who feed live small to medium rats do you add anything for them to chew on like woodblocks to dull their teeth and limit the damage if they were to bite one of my snakes.I have 2 snakes that i gave up trying to feed F/T.

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My feeder breeders eat a rodent lab block diet that keeps their teeth in good short condition. However, to prevent bites I feed smaller and more frequent meals than larger and more often. Crawlers and small rats are harmless where as an adult rat can do some damage. Also over seeing feeding and being alert will help too.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marc from CT

For those who feed live small to medium rats do you add anything for them to chew on like woodblocks to dull their teeth and limit the damage if they were to bite one of my snakes.I have 2 snakes that i gave up trying to feed F/T.

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Have you tried fresh killed with a zombie dance? Even mine that don't like to eat FT will always take a fresh killed if you wiggle it :D

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I give my rats something to chew on but it's not to dull their teeth it's to keep them busy so they don't chew their tubs usually small and medium rats are not the one doing the chewing ;)

I feed over 200 live rats each month and have done so for years without any issue and you will be fine too if you feeding responsibly.

As for trying to switch it can take time sometimes YEARS if the one you have to switch are females the best time to do so will be after they lay their clutch if you plan on breeding them.

For male only tough love works.

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Originally Posted by Zombie

Have you tried fresh killed with a zombie dance? Even mine that don't like to eat FT will always take a fresh killed if you wiggle it :D

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Yea i tryed fresh killed..I'm ok with feeding live now and ill try again down the road. For now i'm gonna stick to the small rats for my live feeders..

I agree with feeding smaller meals more often if you go live. I've been cutting up pine 2x4's to put in my rat tubs. As was mentioned earlier, not to dull their teeth, more to keep them from trying to chew out :)

Chew blocks aren't as much for dulling the teeth as they are for preventing teeth from growing to an unhealthy length(and as mentioned, to prevent chew outs). Rats/mice teeth don't stop growing, and if they don't have something to chew on, their bottom teeth will grow right up into the roof of their mouths. A rat that has a chew block, or keeps their teeth filed down on their food can still deliver a perfectly sharp, painful bite.