Live Mice to Live Rats - Switching

Is it usually tough to switch a Ball Python who has been eating live mice for over a year to live rats? About to give my Ball Python his first live rat tonight, he's been on live mice for over a year, and I wanted to know if this community thinks that he'd take a rat.

Not sure if Ball Pythons tend be as stubborn as Carpets are.

Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Ball pythons CAN be finicky when it comes to switching prey. If you're having problems getting the bp onto rats, there are some tips you can try like scenting the rat with soiled mouse bedding. So far, I haven't had a mouser ball python that I haven't been able to convert to rats, but some took longer and more effort than others.

My carpet python on the other hand... I took him in as a rescue from someone who was feeding it once every 2 months, 5 mice per feeding. I tried and tried to convert him to rats, but when a rat is in his tank, he doesn't even seem to see it. So, I'm now at the mercy of my lone mouser who sends me to the pet store every week for 5 mice, then takes an hour to feed one after the other...

Considering you are switching live mice to live rats, I don't THINK you should have much issues.

It's harder to switch to f/t.

Like the other poster said, try rubbing soiled mice bedding on the rat if he decides to be stubborn.

Also, if you can get him to take rats, DO NOT go back to mice :p

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

Also, if you can get him to take rats, DO NOT go back to mice :p

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I definitely wouldn't, but thanks for looking out.

I don't have mice bedding or anything scented to rub on the rat, but I'll give one a try later tonight. Still checking for advice until then, and I will update...

If you have a pet shop close by, you can go in and ask for a baggie filled with used mouse bedding. You may get some funny looks, but I don't see why they'd refuse.

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

If you have a pet shop close by, you can go in and ask for a baggie filled with used mouse bedding. You may get some funny looks, but I don't see why they'd refuse.

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Didn't think of that.

Thanks.

My spinnerblast was a die hard mouser and I tried everything trying to get him switched over and even picked up some ASFs because they are supposedly like crack to BPs and he wouldnt give any of the rats a second sniff. The worst part was if I offered him a rat he would lose interest in feeding entirely and I would have to wait a few days before I could offer a mouse.... Then last monday I tossed in a rat pup after skipping a week of feeding because I just didnt make it to the store to get him a mouse and he sniffed it for a bit and then snatched it up and swallowed him down. I gave him a second one and he ate it. I usually have to double up on adult mice as he is almost 900g so it was getting spendy to keep feeding him mice every week. My other guy switched over with very little effort and is now a piggy! So I guess it varies but for the most part I have heard that it can be very difficult as I have experienced with my spinnerblast. I guess you just gotta try a bunch of different tricks and and be diligent and patient. Good luck! :gj:

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Originally Posted by Andybill

My spinnerblast was a die hard mouser and I tried everything trying to get him switched over and even picked up some ASFs because they are supposedly like crack to BPs and he wouldnt give any of the rats a second sniff. The worst part was if I offered him a rat he would lose interest in feeding entirely and I would have to wait a few days before I could offer a mouse.... Then last monday I tossed in a rat pup after skipping a week of feeding because I just didnt make it to the store to get him a mouse and he sniffed it for a bit and then snatched it up and swallowed him down. I gave him a second one and he ate it. I usually have to double up on adult mice as he is almost 900g so it was getting spendy to keep feeding him mice every week.

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That's almost exactly what happened to me! I have a 177g mouser and she was taking F/T adult mice. She won't eat two in one sitting, so I have having to feed her multiple times a week. However, she was eating for me. They say spiders are good eaters, but she's my pickiest one! About 5 days ago I had a leftover rat pinky/fuzzy that my male didn't need (I bought him a weanling to try and eat and he snatched that one up so I decided not to double feed him since the weanling is pretty big for him). I put the live fuzzy rat in with the spider mouser and she snatched it up right away! So yesterday I bought her a rat pup and she gobbled it up. So no more mice for her now that I know she'll eat rats. Next week, I'll try and get her to take a F/T rat from me since I know she'll eat F/T off the tongs.

It's official; I've got a mouser.

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Originally Posted by SkYyame

It's official; I've got a mouser.

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What all have you tried? It may be a little early to call your snake a mouser. Have you tried a live rat? A rat rubbed in mouse bedding (both live and F/T)? Have you tried feeding one small mouse followed by a small rat (by small I mean a smaller meal than normal)? Have you tried leaving a rat overnight? Have you tried the hair dryer trick?

There are a lot of things to try. I tried all the things mentioned above and my spider still wouldn't eat rats. For whatever reason, she flipped the rat switch and decided that they were edible. Do like me and bulk order some mice...your mouser will decide right then is a good time to switch to rats after you've spent all that money. :taz: