JCP not eating; Part II

just to add my two cents... there are some jungles that will go for mice and even the most experienced keepers can't get them to go back to rats.
if it's taking scented rats, then consider that a victory... because feeding a big adult jcp mice for the next 20 years will suck.

after reading all the posts, my only question is... do you ever leave the rat in over night? i have a couple carpets that won't always eat when offered but when i leave it in the cage all night, it's gone in the morning. basically, just because it doesn't strike, constrict, and eat when offered, doesn't mean it won't eat at all.

I certainly wish you luck in this. In all my experience with Jungles, I've never been able to switch one from mice to rats. I've had them strike but never hang on and coil. You can try Colin's advice as well, but it too never worked for me.

I have a female West Papuan now that will strike at rats, but will only eat mice. I've tried everything. In my opinion, once they are on mice, it is next to impossible to get them to take rats. I'm not saying it can't be done, but expect a very tough challenge. The key is to start them very young and never switch back. Starving them never did the trick for me.....they would rather die. Scenting seems to be working for you, so it's a start.

Good luck and let us know the results.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Colin Vestrand

just to add my two cents... there are some jungles that will go for mice and even the most experienced keepers can't get them to go back to rats.
if it's taking scented rats, then consider that a victory... because feeding a big adult jcp mice for the next 20 years will suck.

after reading all the posts, my only question is... do you ever leave the rat in over night? i have a couple carpets that won't always eat when offered but when i leave it in the cage all night, it's gone in the morning. basically, just because it doesn't strike, constrict, and eat when offered, doesn't mean it won't eat at all.

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Yes, I've done this many a time. No luck yet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brandon Osborne

I certainly wish you luck in this. In all my experience with Jungles, I've never been able to switch one from mice to rats. I've had them strike but never hang on and coil. You can try Colin's advice as well, but it too never worked for me.

I have a female West Papuan now that will strike at rats, but will only eat mice. I've tried everything. In my opinion, once they are on mice, it is next to impossible to get them to take rats. I'm not saying it can't be done, but expect a very tough challenge. The key is to start them very young and never switch back. Starving them never did the trick for me.....they would rather die. Scenting seems to be working for you, so it's a start.

Good luck and let us know the results.

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Brandon, this carpet was not started out on rats. Well, I'm not sure about that, but he's had a varied diet of mice and rats with the previous keeper.

This leads me to believe (with David's help) that I can get him back on rats because he has been feeding on them in the past.

[QUOTE=DutchHerp;1004006]
Brandon, this carpet was not started out on rats. Well, I'm not sure about that, but he's had a varied diet of mice and rats with the previous keeper.
QUOTE]

Matthijs, this leads me to believe the person that sold you the snake is pulling your leg. Anything I've ever heard of jungles being fed rats and switched to mice has been they never go back to feeding on rats. I know not every animal is the same, but it seems like a steady trend to me. Has he ever fed on rats for you, other than the scented rat?

Yes Brandon he took rats when I got him, but never had a great feeding response. He always gave me the impression like "Meh, I'll just eat it, whatever." After I fed him those two mice (because according to the guy's feeding chart it was OK) he never took one again voluntarily.

Also, I have issues trusting everyone. He claims to have been breeding snakes for over 20 years, and he's always helped me answer my questions. I also asked for a certificate that he was CBB (I'm moving to Europe next year) and he sent it right away.

Just seems sort of strange that he took rats before (in my care, and thus knows they are food items) but now won't take them again.

Like I said, I'll keep you guys updated weekly, whenever I attempt to feed.

Alright fellas,

It's a week later and I've offered him a small rat. He seemed really interested at first but he just loses interest after a while.

I'm about to wash the rat thoroughly to get most of the scent off. Then I'm rubbing a mouse all over it just to see if he'll take it then (this worked once before).

If he won't take it, I'll try the exact same thing again.

When should I start giving him mice? Before I'm giving him just mice, I want to try to place the small rat in his mouth when swallowing one mouse.

Thanks,

Update!

I didn't wash the rat, and I just started scenting the rat with the mouse I had... he seemed really interested, and eventually he just opened his mouth and started eating it, after I just kept gently touching his mouth with the rat.

I'm really happy!!

Any advice on what to do next week?

My plan is still the same: thaw a rat with mouse, first try the rat, then scent.

:banana:

Looks like he has realized the food poses no threat. My Bredli makes me gently rub his sides and he will just open his mouth around the head and eat. At the shop I help at all the corns and hognose make you hold it on their mouth and they just open.

Sorry for this many posts...

but he took 2 more! Best news is, they were both unscented. It took a few minutes, but eventually he'd just open his mouth!

I think 3 is enough for one day :)

I'll try again next week.

Should I go for a large rat?

One prey item is usually not a bad thing. :)