Switching to rats

Ok, I haven't fed my bp in 3 weeks for various reasons (mainly she was in shed for two of the feeding days) and her feeding day is today. I know she has to be super hungry so I've decided that there's not a better time to switch her over to rats. I've got her feeding on 2 f/t adult mice a week.

I tried feeding her a small f/t rat tonight but she wouldn't eat. Should I just wait till next week to offer her the ray again? Or should I just feed her the mice so she doesn't starve to death? Advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks
~SC

it depends on the age and size of your snake. If she is a baby, she needs to eat something after 3 weeks. If she is older and of a good weight, she can go a few weeks without eating. I made my female switch to rats, she only skipped one meal. What I did was I thawed the rat in the same bowl with a mouse, then rubbed the mouse all over the rat. FIrst time, no go. Second time, she was hungry and she took it straight away. That's pretty fast for a switch, but it does happen. she hasn't looked back. Try to scent the rat with the mouse, that should help some. Also being really hungry is to your advantage. A couple of mine don't like the food right in their face, so if she is like that, just try not to overwhelm her with it. If you want, you can actually leave it in overnight as well. Good Luck:)

try thawing a mouse with the rat

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Originally Posted by Sammy412

it depends on the age and size of your snake. If she is a baby, she needs to eat something after 3 weeks. If she is older and of a good weight, she can go a few weeks without eating. I made my female switch to rats, she only skipped one meal. What I did was I thawed the rat in the same bowl with a mouse, then rubbed the mouse all over the rat. FIrst time, no go. Second time, she was hungry and she took it straight away. That's pretty fast for a switch, but it does happen. she hasn't looked back. Try to scent the rat with the mouse, that should help some. Also being really hungry is to your advantage. A couple of mine don't like the food right in their face, so if she is like that, just try not to overwhelm her with it. If you want, you can actually leave it in overnight as well. Good Luck:)

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Ok I'm going to try that method tonight. She hatched 5/15/10 so she's about 6 months old. She pounds down mice like nobodies buisness... That's why I'm trying to switch her over to something bigger and more cost effective.

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Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

try thawing a mouse with the rat

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That was the very first thing I tried... Thanks tho :/

try downsizing to a rat pup for a feeding or two

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Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

try downsizing to a rat pup for a feeding or two

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Ok I will. Do they sell those in pet stores like petsmart and/or Petco? Also, do u think it would be easier to feed her live instead of f/t?

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Originally Posted by stupidcracker00

Ok I will. Do they sell those in pet stores like petsmart and/or Petco? Also, do u think it would be easier to feed her live instead of f/t?

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i know petsmart sells frozen ones

Ok cool. Do u think it's that big of a difference between small rats and rat pups?

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Originally Posted by stupidcracker00

Ok cool. Do u think it's that big of a difference between small rats and rat pups?

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Yes. Are you feeding f/t or live?

Here's what's worked for me every time. Get some dirty mouse bedding and put a handful in the front of her enclosure.

When you see her actively flicking her toungue and investigating and looking for the mouse (from the smell of the mouse bedding), offer a white rat that's as close to the same size as your mice that you're feeding, or just slightly larger.

She should strike immediately when she's in that hunt mode.

Ok, I will definitely try that next time! Should I feed her the mice this week so she doesnt starve? Or would that make it harder for her to take the rats next week?

oh and I am currently feeding F/T mice and attempting to feed her F/T small rats. Next time ill try to feed her F/T rat pups. If she takes the rat, how many times do I need to put mouse bedding in the cage before I feed her?

She's not going to starve in one week. Try the following week without the mouse bedding. If she doesn't take - wait another week and do the mouse bedding the following week. Repeat until she consistently starts taking rats.

If she's good weight - you can also try the "tough love" approach and just stop offering mice.

It's been 3 weeks since she's ate...

Ok, I just offered her a mouse last night. She didn't even take IT! I've heard some bp's stop eating during the winter, but would a 6 month old bp do that??

Yep.
Just relax and do the following:
Keep temps up
Keep weekly weights on her (you only need to worry when the weight starts dropping)
Keep offering rats, giving in won't get it done.

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Originally Posted by MitsuMike

Yep.
Just relax and do the following:
Keep temps up
Keep weekly weights on her (you only need to worry when the weight starts dropping)
Keep offering rats, giving in won't get it done.

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how often should I offer her a rat? every day? or once a week?

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Originally Posted by stupidcracker00

how often should I offer her a rat? every day? or once a week?

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Once a week. Offering every day will put her more off feed.

Something that always works for me is thawing one rat with two mice in a plastic bag, slowly, because it will often make the mice bleed from the nose/mouth, and then rub the mouse blood on the rat. Another trick, after you've thawed the mice and rat, is using a blowdryer, pre-scent with a thawed mouse very close to the cage. This drives them nuts, and by the time they realize that it's a rat you're giving them, it's generally already in their mouth, and they realize that they can eat it.

Ok thank u guys (and gals) for all the input! I tried a couple of those techniques last night with no success... She wasnt even interested in the mouse i put on top of her cage to get her pumped up for food. So my conclusion is, I think she's stopped eating for the winter. Is it normal for juveniles to go off feed for the winter? Cuz I thought that was only for females who are breeding... I'm really curious/nervous to why she is not eating right now so as much info as possible would be greatly appreciated!

Anyone?

it is possible. I would wait a couple of weeks before trying again. As long as her weight is good, she will be fine.