Tricks to switching from mice to rats?

Is there any tricks you can do to try to get a snake off of mice? Ive read about scenting mice onto rats, can that work?

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Is there any tricks you can do to try to get a snake off of mice? Ive read about scenting mice onto rats, can that work?

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never worked for me.. i heard starving them would be a good idea.. im in the process right now.. mine hasent eaten in about 3 weeks.. as soon as she sheds.. im dropping a rat in there

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Originally Posted by PsYcHo_99

never worked for me.. i heard starving them would be a good idea.. im in the process right now.. mine hasent eaten in about 3 weeks.. as soon as she sheds.. im dropping a rat in there

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I wouldn't call it starving the snake - since they can go for months without food.

I call it "tough love". Usually after about five weeks on a snake with good weight on it, they will convert to rats for me.

Once you give in and give a mouse, you have to start over with the tough love.

One trick Kevin gave me was to put dirty mouse bedding (a handful) into the snake's enclosure and watch for them to become very interested, active tongue flicking and then put the rat in. Worked like a charm the FIRST time - but then she got wise to it the next week.

Eventually, with the tough love approach, and not giving in (as long as the snake maintains good weight and isn't losing weight) has worked for me with all of mine.

try washing your rat that your using with hand soap and water, then rubbing it in the mice bedding and on a mouse.

I am lucky...
My ball will eat anything that moves or doesn't. He's not picky at all........

I agree with stangs13 take the rat, and let him run around a mouse tub so he smells like the mice and drop him in good luck.

I switched a few from mice to rats. Try live rat pups or live weanlings.Once they get on to the rats you can increase to a proper sized rat. Putting the snake in a paper bag with a fresh killed rat overnight can work really well for a picky eater.Or put a bunch of wadded newspaper in the tub with a fresh killed rat overnight.If they refuse, leave them alone for a week and try again.

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Originally Posted by karma279

I am lucky...
My ball will eat anything that moves or doesn't. He's not picky at all........

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mine are the same.. they switch back and fort with no problems at all.. i dont have to do anything special. :gj:

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Originally Posted by karma279

I am lucky...
My ball will eat anything that moves or doesn't. He's not picky at all........

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Wait until you have more than a few, there will always be picky ones;)

Shes in shed, so after i'll try a rat on her