They Wont Switch

I cant get half of my snakes to take rat pups after eating mice. Is this normal? Any suggestions to make the transition go easier? I have one that I think will have to take live prey although most take F/T. Shes the pickiest one and one of the ones that want mice =/

I thaw mice with my rats and rarely have a problem switching

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Some snakes transition from mice to rats easily, some don't... some never will.

What have you tried so far to get them to switch?

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Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

I thaw mice with my rats and rarely have a problem switching

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I even went as far as buying live mice to rub on the rat pups and no dice. I have two that are giving me troubles switching.

I fought my pewter girl for 3 months witching from live to F/T and then spent the next 3 months trying to get her to switch to Rats. She has absolutely NO interest in rats. I tried EVERY trick in the book. I eventually gave up and bought her her own supply of Jumbo Mousecicles. Can't wait to see how hard it is to get her up to breeding weight on mice. She's also my most shy eater and will only eat if I leave the mice in her cage overnight... *sigh*

Hopefully it's just a case of a stubborn ball python for you that will eventually switch. Just stick with it and don't give in. And if you ever get them to switch. Make sure you NEVER go back. I've heard horror stories of people spending months switching a ball python to rats to have a careless employee throw in a F/T mouse and reverting all of that hard work.

I know I didn't offer much in the way of advice or options, but there are plenty of post full of those. Just thought I'd share my experience. Be persistent and don't cave in if you can help it. One of you will end up being more stubborn in the end!

Well I broke down tonight and purchased some female mice as I already have a male. Looks like Im in the mouse breeding business :weirdface So far she will only take live and it took me forever to get her to eat after I bought her. But shes worth the extra work.