How difficult is it to switch a BP's food type?

Hello,

I'm looking to buy my first BP, and because I'm interested in a particular morph and I only have a couple options.

Option 1: feeds one feeds on F/T MICE

Option 2: feeds on LIVE RAT

Both snakes are around the 150 gram range.


I want to feed my pet f/t rats, which snake do you think is most likely to make the transition?
If worse came to worse, I would rather feed live rats, opposed to owning a snake that exclusively eats mice.


Whats your advice? Thank You.

I would pick the one eating F/T already. Then you can switch him to F/T Rats.

I agree. Buying a BP that's already eating F/T will be your best bet, especially with your first BP.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

I agree. Buying a BP that's already eating F/T will be your best bet, especially with your first BP.

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Originally Posted by RickyNY

I would pick the one eating F/T already. Then you can switch him to F/T Rats.

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Basically, y'all are saying that it's much easier to switch from f/t mice to f/t rats, than from live rats to f/t rats?

Have y'all ever had problems with switching a snake over from mice to rats?
I'm worried I could end up with a snake that eats exclusively mice.

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Originally Posted by PartySnake13

Basically, y'all are saying that it's much easier to switch from f/t mice to f/t rats, than from live rats to f/t rats?

Have y'all ever had problems with switching a snake over from mice to rats?
I'm worried I could end up with a snake that eats exclusively mice.

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That’s not the end of the world for a BP..
I have some that will only eat two ofr three XL / Jumbo mice ..

They have the same nutritional value as rats but it’s easier giving them one rat than multiple mice if they’re strike feeders only . It’s no hardship if they are drop feeders ..


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Originally Posted by PartySnake13

Basically, y'all are saying that it's much easier to switch from f/t mice to f/t rats, than from live rats to f/t rats?

Have y'all ever had problems with switching a snake over from mice to rats?
I'm worried I could end up with a snake that eats exclusively mice.

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There are "mousers" out there, but they're few and far between.

F/T is preferred for many reasons:

1) it's safer for your snake
2) much easier to source and can be bought in bulk
3) much cheaper than live

You'll be better off switching from F/T mice to F/T rats than trying to switch from live to F/T.

It's not as if we can perfectly predict this for you...snakes, & especially BPs, can be pretty opinionated, & mice and rats just smell vastly different, so while one snake might switch easier from f/t mice to f/t rats, another might switch easier from live rats to f/t rats.

Personally, if I was seriously interested in the one taking live rats, I'd ask the seller to offer him a f/t rat & see if he takes it. That way you can rule out the stress of re-homing that may influence ALL snakes to refuse ANY prey offered...and of course, you have to hope the seller is honest about the snake's reaction too, but it's worth a shot.

Another thing to consider: many snakes will switch easier from live to fresh-killed, and THEN later you can switch from fresh kill to f/t.

BTW, I'd advise against keeping ANY snake on live prey, mice OR rats, but especially rats! As they grow up, they are formidable opponents that fight back effectively & sooner or later your snake is likely to be injured enough to need a vet, or worse yet, be the victim.

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Originally Posted by PartySnake13

Hello,

I'm looking to buy my first BP, and because I'm interested in a particular morph and I only have a couple options.

Option 1: feeds one feeds on F/T MICE

Option 2: feeds on LIVE RAT

Both snakes are around the 150 gram range.


I want to feed my pet f/t rats, which snake do you think is most likely to make the transition?
If worse came to worse, I would rather feed live rats, opposed to owning a snake that exclusively eats mice.


Whats your advice? Thank You.

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My advice (and I wish I would of realized this a couple years ago) would skip the BP and go with something like a BOA who doesn't refuse a meal. But that's not really good advice since this is a BP site and your heart is set on a BP. I'll just give you my experience on feeding a BP. It was really tough for me to switch from F/T mice to F/T rats and I almost gave up. But I was persistent and tried a lot of tricks. I think the most helpful trick for me was covering the F/T rat in dirty mouse bedding to get the scent of a mouse just before offering. It seemed to work and helped me get over that hump. Now I just deal w/ the normal BP meal refusals while my BOA gobbles everything offered to him. Good luck!

Thank you everyone for the input,

I ended up purchasing the snake that currently feeding on F/T mice.

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Originally Posted by PartySnake13

Thank you everyone for the input,

I ended up purchasing the snake that currently feeding on F/T mice.

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Cool cool!! .

You'll have to share some pics once he/she has arrived and settled in.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Cool cool!! .

You'll have to share some pics once he/she has arrived and settled in.

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I can't wait; however, it could be a week or two before the snake gets shipped, I'm still waiting on my redline herpstat and various other supplies to ship, seems like some companies are sending out order at a glacial pace.

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Originally Posted by PartySnake13

I can't wait; however, it could be a week or two before the snake gets shipped, I'm still waiting on my redline herpstat and various other supplies to ship, seems like some companies are sending out order at a glacial pace.

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Many are short-handed: some employees are home sick, or taking care of kids not in school, & some companies have laid off many workers to save money & because orders have slowed, while still trying to stay afloat with fewer handling their business. I've noticed that too...things are taking longer. My order for pet food from Chewy took about 10 days instead of 2 days. (I forgive them!) So plan for similar effects for the future, no matter what you're ordering. ;) It's the new normal.

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Originally Posted by PartySnake13

I can't wait; however, it could be a week or two before the snake gets shipped, I'm still waiting on my redline herpstat and various other supplies to ship, seems like some companies are sending out order at a glacial pace.

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Good call :gj:

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Cool cool!! .

You'll have to share some pics once he/she has arrived and settled in.

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Good choice .. did he say it was a good eater ?


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At that size considering the hardest part has already been done (switching to F/T) it will be pretty easy, young BP are voracious and if done right you could have your BP switched in 1 to 4 weeks.

If your BP has issues find a petstore and ask them for dirty mice bedding.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Good choice .. did he say it was a good eater ?


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According to the seller, she's a "very good" eater, and he just fed her today.

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Originally Posted by Stewart_Reptiles

At that size considering the hardest part has already been done (switching to F/T) it will be pretty easy, young BP are voracious and if done right you could have your BP switched in 1 to 4 weeks.

If your BP has issues find a petstore and ask them for dirty mice bedding.

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Excellent idea, I have a petshop that sells live mice, I'm sure they will spare some bedding.

Congratulations on your new critter! Looking forward to lots of pictures. Like Zinc said a BP "mouser" isn't the end of the world. 2 jumbo mice is a good sized meal. Some BPs also like ASFs which they can feed on for life so you have a few food options. Hopefully he'll have a seamless transition to rats and all of this will be moot.