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

[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.

[RickyNY]

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

[Craiga 01453]

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

[PartySnake13]

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

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

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.

[Zincubus]

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.

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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[Craiga 01453]

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.

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.

[Bogertophis]

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.

[ckuhn003]

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.

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!

[PartySnake13]

Thank you everyone for the input,

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

[Craiga 01453]

Thank you everyone for the input,

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

Cool cool!! .

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