Switching from mice to rats and from live to f/t

Well, it seems that even the largest mice at the pet store seem to be only just about the size of Link's girth. So I'm thinking about switching from rats to mice. Thing is, I've been feeding live since I got him, and I know rats can be dangerous live. Is it possible to swtich from rats to mice and from live to f/t all in one move? If so, what tips can you give me? Thanks!

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Originally Posted by First_time_herp

Well, it seems that even the largest mice at the pet store seem to be only just about the size of Link's girth. So I'm thinking about switching [/b]from rats to mice.[/b] Thing is, I've been feeding live since I got him, and I know rats can be dangerous live. Is it possible to swtich from rats to mice and from live to f/t all in one move? If so, what tips can you give me? Thanks!

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You mean mice to rats, yes?

It's possible but more likely to succeed if you did it incrimentally (switch to rats first THEN try f/t). I don't find rats any more dangerous than mice feeding live - either can be a problem IF they are hungry when introduced to the snake and IF you do not supervise the feed.

To acheive what you want i would go first with a rat that had been scented with a mouse or mouse bedding - once you know there's no issue there go for the pk or the f/t transition.

Well I make sure to supervise every time I feed. Now, I'll justh ave get some small rats and let them sit in an empty box that I used to get the mice in. Maybe after a few feedings with live rats I'll go pk, then
f/t. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by First_time_herp

I know rats can be dangerous live.

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If you stick with small rats and below you will be fine. If it helps, I feed about 250 live rats a week to my ball python colony and in 10 years I have never had a single ball python injured.

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

If you stick with small rats and below you will be fine. If it helps, I feed about 250 live rats a week to my ball python colony and in 10 years I have never had a single ball python injured.

-adam

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Sweet, than I guess I shouldn't have much to worry about. Thanks again guys.

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

If you stick with small rats and below you will be fine. If it helps, I feed about 250 live rats a week to my ball python colony and in 10 years I have never had a single ball python injured.

-adam

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Hey Adam,

I believe that Kashmire is still fine with adult mice, but I may switch to rats later, not sure yet. Anyway, if I do switch to rats, can you tell me what you consider a small rat (weight)?

I know that one person may call something a small rat, and you might consider the same rat a medium, for example. Thanks!

I generally feed my adult ball pythons (no matter how large) no larger than a 40-50 gram rat. Some people refer to rats that size as "small smalls". IMO ball pythons, if fed regularly, never need anything larger.

-adam

OK, so I had to go look at Rodent Pro for a visual reference. So basically, from what their weights are, is approximately a 25 to 30 day old rat (their largest weaneds are 44 grams and their smallest small is 45 grams).


Only problem, if I ever went to f/t, their smalls range in size from 45 to 84 grams. To quote my little 5 year old cousin... Aye Yi Yi!!!

Do you have any females that are still strictly mousers? I believe you've said that a male ball is fine as a mouser their entire life (am I remembering that correctly?). I still want to get Kashmire probed just to make sure he's definitely male, but I've also got my eye on a lovely adult ball at the pet store that I'm hoping is a female.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

OK, so I had to go look at Rodent Pro for a visual reference. So basically, from what their weights are, is approximately a 25 to 30 day old rat (their largest weaneds are 44 grams and their smallest small is 45 grams).


Only problem, if I ever went to f/t, their smalls range in size from 45 to 84 grams. To quote my little 5 year old cousin... Aye Yi Yi!!!

Do you have any females that are still strictly mousers? I believe you've said that a male ball is fine as a mouser their entire life (am I remembering that correctly?). I still want to get Kashmire probed just to make sure he's definitely male, but I've also got my eye on a lovely adult ball at the pet store that I'm hoping is a female.

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No, I don't have ant females. Link is a male, as I said.

The question was for Adam.