Switching from Mice To Rats -

I need to know exactly how to switch over, since my oldest bp won't take rats.
How do I exactly scent the rats, also ...
Will I have to scent them forever?

One switched over with no problems, the other female just doesn't want anything to do with rats.
She basically put's her nose to the rat, smelling it ... and pulls off. :cry:

hmm...rex has the same problem...im interested in knowing to

Are you feeding frozen/thawed rats, or pre-killed? You could scent a frozen thawed rat with some used rat bedding and try that. I'm not sure if you can try using mouse bedding on the rat...and I'm not sure that's what you're going for.

I believe somebody else on the forums could not get their ball to eat rats, and instead feeds 2 or 3 adult mice per feed.

I'm using F/T ...
I've tried putting 3 adult mice with one small rat in a baggy, over a week period.
It still wouldn't take it.

Is there a better way to scent?
Can someone with experience please answer?

Used bedding is a great way to scent, and often pet stores will give you some for free. You can also try thawing a frozen mouse in the same baggie as the rat, and that mouse is re-useable.

You can get old mouse bedding ( maybe from a pet store) and let your rat defrost in it and hang in it for a while so that the mouse scent will linger on the rat. Not much else to do until they make a colonge of " Ode to mouse" :)

I have a bp who does the same w/ rats and I tried everything. I gave up and just buy jumbo mice from rodentpro ( about 35-45 grams) and fed two or three.
Good Luck

I'd order from RodentPro, but 30 dollars for shipping is a bit pricey.
To bad they aren't going to be at any local shows.

im so glad i didnt have to do any of that scenting stuff. i just threw that rat in there and she ate it.

But good luck with trying to switch over to rats. I wish i had some advice to give you but roxy decided to be a good snake and eat the first rat i gave her so i really dont have any tricks to share with you but good luck anyways !! :D

Blink - check the local shows anyway - the last handful I've been two have had multiple vendors selling feeders both live and frozen - just remember to bring a cooler and ice just in case.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Smulkin

Blink - check the local shows anyway - the last handful I've been two have had multiple vendors selling feeders both live and frozen - just remember to bring a cooler and ice just in case.

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Alright, I'll keep looking ... Last show I attended, was empty as can be.
Only about 10 vendors, because a hurricane was going to hit that night.
It was already raining hard.