Start baby snakes on rats or mice?

I have been reading that if you start your baby snakes on mice, they may become mouse exclusive, not taking a rat when the time comes. How do you all feel about this? Do you feed your babies mice until a certain size or do you start them day one on rats?

It won't be an issue I start a lot of animals on mice and they can switched very easily, when they are young they are voracious and have a strong feeding response.

She speaks the truth just fed my 150g pewter 2 small mice after he wouldnt touch little rats...

Ill be trying small live rats in a few days so the live rat to f/t rat wont be an issue...

hopper mice till they get some weight on them, then switch.

I'll start them on rats if possible. It depends on the size of the hatchling. If its really small than a rat fuzzy may be to big and a rat pink just isn't usually mobile enough to trigger the strike and feeding response. In that case I start with mouse hoppers but try to switch them over as quickly as I can.

Thanks everyone. Excellent info!

my hatchlings start on rats from the get go. i breed my own rats, so size is not an issue....but if you have to buy feedrs, no harm in feeding with mice and switching later on. i've never had a snake that won't switch, eventually......the secret to converting those picky eaters is tough love.....

Ive had some run ins with some very very very stubborn mousers, so I try to stick to rats as much as possible. Balls have never been too much of a pain but my some of my carpets have. Try getting a 6 foot female carpet up to breeding weight on adult mice.... not a fun experience. Tough love was not helpful at all with her, she just didnt eat for 6 months.

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I try rat fuzzies first and if they don't take them, then I do hopper mice for a couple feedings. Haven't had any issues with them switching over after that.

Had a few stubborn mouse feeders. Scenting the rats with mice is the trick to success here.


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I feed rats as soon as possible. If the snake is big enough to take rat pink, rat's it is. I'll feed mice to stubborn hatchlings only if I must. Most snakes will make the switch without problems.

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Originally Posted by CryHavoc17

Ive had some run ins with some very very very stubborn mousers, so I try to stick to rats as much as possible. Balls have never been too much of a pain but my some of my carpets have. Try getting a 6 foot female carpet up to breeding weight on adult mice.... not a fun experience. Tough love was not helpful at all with her, she just didnt eat for 6 months.

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If you're still fighting this battle, try chicken, quail or rabbit. Carpets won't refuse those.