Transitioning to Rats

Curious if there are any transition issues going from F/T mice to rats. I've had my BP for a little over two months now and he's successfully eaten a f/t mouse each week although he's a sneaky eater where I have to let the mouse in the cage and come back the next morning.

When he arrived he was 195g and now he's 252g so he seems to be quickly putting on the weight. Thinking about picking up some rat pups at the local repticon this weekend since they don't sell this size at the big store pet shops. Maybe pick up enough for a couple months of feeding? Should I expect and issues with converting?

Also, he hasn't shed since I've gotten him. Is that normal? Like I said earlier, it's been over two months.

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I've heard some people say they had issues. I didn't. I just fed a live one the first time and then f/t after that. Zero issues. My girl eats anything. I bet she would eat cheese fries if I offered.

Considering how similar our boys are, I don't think you'll have a problem. Your guy seems to be used to going after his food at his own pace anyways so I think he'll go for the rat.

If it's any encouragement Tappy took his first rat no problem and he may be a striker now! I'll have to see if I can get a repeat of this for his next feeding, but for his very first rat he struck from his hide and dragged it back inside, something he has never done before!

I did thaw the rat and his usual mouse together in the same ziploc bag overnight in the fridge, and again in warm water so that may have helped. But over all I did notice rat had a stronger smell. So that may have had influence.

So for your guy I'd say hope for the best but be prepared for issues in case they happen. I'd be sure to still have back up mice for mixing scent purposes or in case rat doesn't work out. So for how much rat pups you wanna buy it's really up to you but 1-2 month supply sounds like a good start to see how things go!

Wishing you the best of luck!

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

Considering how similar our boys are, I don't think you'll have a problem. Your guy seems to be used to going after his food at his own pace anyways so I think he'll go for the rat.

If it's any encouragement Tappy took his first rat no problem and he may be a striker now! I'll have to see if I can get a repeat of this for his next feeding, but for his very first rat he struck from his hide and dragged it back inside, something he has never done before!

I did thaw the rat and his usual mouse together in the same ziploc bag overnight in the fridge, and again in warm water so that may have helped. But over all I did notice rat had a stronger smell. So that may have had influence.

So for your guy I'd say hope for the best but be prepared for issues in case they happen. I'd be sure to still have back up mice for mixing scent purposes or in case rat doesn't work out. So for how much rat pups you wanna buy it's really up to you but 1-2 month supply sounds like a good start to see how things go!

Wishing you the best of luck!

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Very similar indeed. I wouldn't be surprised if they were 'bin mates' a couple months ago ;)

Congrats on the 1st strike! Fred (formerly known as Jose Con Snake O) struck at a mouse a couple weeks ago but I think it was a defensive strike. Nothing since....

I never even considered thawing both a mouse and rat at the same time for scent purposes. Did you then toss the mouse since he ate the rat? As for smell, I've never been able to smell a mouse (maybe it's my lack of smell) and I'm hoping a rat isn't any different (to me...).

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

Very similar indeed. I wouldn't be surprised if they were 'bin mates' a couple months ago ;)

Congrats on the 1st strike! Fred (formerly known as Jose Con Snake O) struck at a mouse a couple weeks ago but I think it was a defensive strike. Nothing since....

I never even considered thawing both a mouse and rat at the same time for scent purposes. Did you then toss the mouse since he ate the rat? As for smell, I've never been able to smell a mouse (maybe it's my lack of smell) and I'm hoping a rat isn't any different (to me...).

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Thank you! I actually kept the mouse and put it back in the freezer, going by the ok-to-refreeze-once only rule. So for Tappy's next feeding I'll thaw both the same mouse and rat together, then toss the mouse afterwards. I actually never noticed any scent from the mice either! So I was surprised when I opened the package of rats I definitely noticed a smell!

Rooting for you and Fred! Hopefully he'll be enticed by rat as well :) Thursdays are your feeding days as well right?

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

If it's any encouragement Tappy took his first rat no problem and he may be a striker now! I'll have to see if I can get a repeat of this for his next feeding, but for his very first rat he struck from his hide and dragged it back inside, something he has never done before!

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Stitch drug the first rat I ever gave him back inside his hide to consume it as well. With mice he never did that. He just ate out in the open lol. After the first one he started eating out in the open again tho.

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Originally Posted by MmmBanana

Stitch drug the first rat I ever gave him back inside his hide to consume it as well. With mice he never did that. He just ate out in the open lol. After the first one he started eating out in the open again tho.

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Very interesting! Makes me wonder how Tapioca will react for his next feeding. Does Stitch usually come out in the open for you whenever you offer rat, or does he camp in his hide waiting for dinner to come to him?

Its hit or miss. I can dangle it in front of his hide for a min and he will launch out from inside. But its usually slightly faster to take his hide off and put the rat in front of him and he takes it immediately. Taking the hide off kinda gets his attention. If I leave it on him he just stays in rock mode till he smells rat lol.

Actually I re-read your question, and from inside its different. Sometimes I dont see him till he is striking, and sometimes he will come out and and kinda get in position right outside of his hide.

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

Rooting for you and Fred! Hopefully he'll be enticed by rat as well :) Thursdays are your feeding days as well right?

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No, I switched to Weds a couple weeks ago which gives me more time to enjoy him on the weekends. Thursday night feedings were tough because I wasn't able to hold him on Saturdays.