Thinking of trying to switch to rats this weekend...any advice?

Okay, so as of today my BP weighs 223g completely empty. I've been feeding her large f/t mice (30g or so) every 5 days when I can get them, but it's been hard to find them big enough. I have some small 40g rats...they are definitely smaller than her body, so I feel like it would be okay...

Think this would be okay to give her? And if I do should I wait longer to offer, or go ahead and feed on schedule? She ate 3 days ago, but the mouse was only 21g.

My current plan is to warm up a leftover fuzzy alongside the rat so it smells familiar, but I'd love to hear everyone's suggestions. She is a very aggressive feeder so I'm hoping she won't give me too much trouble, I just don't want to stress her by offering something too heavy. /blah blah worrywart

(BTW, thank you Aaron for suggesting a 5-day schedule in a couple of threads...it may be slightly harder to remember but she's finally starting to put on weight! :D )

Try braining the rat if she doesnt seem interested in it. Thaw the rat normally and then punch a small hole in its skull, letting some blood/brain juice flow out. Hit the head with a blow dryer to get it at 100degrees then offer it.

What I did was got the pet store and asked for a little mouse bedding. Scented the rats with that and it worked like a charm :)

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Try braining the rat if she doesnt seem interested in it. Thaw the rat normally and then punch a small hole in its skull, letting some blood/brain juice flow out. Hit the head with a blow dryer to get it at 100degrees then offer it.

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Ooof...sounds a little gruesome but I can see why that would work!

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Originally Posted by RestlessRobie

What I did was got the pet store and asked for a little mouse bedding. Scented the rats with that and it worked like a charm :)

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I'll have to try this! There's a pet store pretty close to where I live...might get some funny looks though :P

:rofl: I used to get looks but now they ask me whats up with there snakes when I stop in to buy my feeders :) They have even called me once or twice with question :P

For the first time, I'd try the rat just as-is, without any tricks or shenanigans. With the exception of one very, very stubborn pastel (who still only eats mice and he's 5 years old), the rest of mine all switched without any fuss or tricks.

If she doesn't eat it the first time, give it a week, and then try again. Sometimes getting a little hungry makes it easier, too. :)

-Jen

SUCCESS!

I waited until today to make it a full week and decided to just offer the rat without any tricks, as Jen suggested. She took it just fine! One extra little tongue-flick and then — whooosh — it was gone!

Hopefully it digests just as easily. :D Thanks all!