How do I switch my RTB from mice to rats?

He is at the size where he needs to be eating rats, not multiple mice at a time. He will take a mouse in an instant but when I put a rat in front of him, he backs off and comes back out to eat in 1 minute for a mouse..

Help?

I take it your feeding F/T? I would try rubbing the mouse all over the rat.

You have to stop offering mice if you want to switch the rats.

If he refuses to eat the rat, wait until next feeding. He'll get hungry soon enough.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tzeentch

You have to stop offering mice if you want to switch the rats.

If he refuses to eat the rat, wait until next feeding. He'll get hungry soon enough.

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I second this. Ususally it doesn't take to long to get boa's to switch....

Yeah, I'm surprised you're having trouble! Our gal switched from f/t mice to rats instantly!

I agree...try thawing them together or even get some live mouse smells on that rat. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tzeentch

You have to stop offering mice if you want to switch the rats.

If he refuses to eat the rat, wait until next feeding. He'll get hungry soon enough.

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This is the best advice!
You won't hurt the boa by letting him miss a meal.
Just keep offering the rats without giving him the opportunity to have mice and he will switch.

I've tried both of those. He wouldn't eat for 1 month and every week I offered him a rat on feeding day. Scented the rat all that. :/

When i was switching my boa, I took a mouse and rubbed it all over the rat I was offering. I also had to sort of knock her in the head with the rat. Not hard, just kinda bump it against her head. Took a good 2 months to get her switched. Now I can barely get the tub open on feeding day. :)

Mine will eat whatever's furry and dangling from tongs. :P I'm surprised he's being stubborn about this. Keep at it, eventually he'll get hungry enough to start striking at it at least, and will probably realize then that it's a yummy rat. :)

Hi all,

Sorry to re-open an old thread but I am having similar problems, with a twist however. I have a baby albino redtail boa, and I am having problems switching her to rats as well. When I first got her she took live mice instantly. After a few weeks I attempted feeding her a live rat the same size but she refused it. I have tried scenting a live rat with mouse bedding three times, and she wouldnt even acknowledge it. In addition, she wouldn't take a live mouse after refusing the rat, but instead ate two frozen thawed mice. Obviously I am thrilled she will accept F/T but I am worried she isnt taking rat pups yet. She seems to be intimidated by live rodents, and moves away from them. Any other tricks I can use, or is it just hunger based that will force her to switch? She is still very young and I dont want a two month hunger strike to stunt her growth or cause her any irreparable damage. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.