Mouse vs. rat eaters

[bigboyslims]

Does anyone know why some snakes don't like to eat rats? I have one that seems to dislike rats. He ate f/t rat pups for the breeder, then I fed him f/t mice for a month or so (only thing I had available). Then he ate f/t small rats for me for a few months. Now he refuses rats and will only take mice...Anyone know whats going on here.

[Spaniard]

You could always try scenting a rat with a mouse and see if he'll do the switch for you. If not he might just be a mouser.

[_BoidFinatic_]

Some BPs don't ever switch to rats. Some eat mice their whole lives and some eat rats their whole lives. Maybe try a live rat and then continue on with f/t.

[snakey68]

I would stick to F/T if thats what it has been eating IMO I wouldn't change to "live" to get it eating something else as it may prove a bit more difficult to get it back to F/T again.

Royals dont need rats and can do well on a diet of mice all their life if they will take them.

If he eats mice fine why do you want to change to rats ? he will be fine on mice I would stick to what is working ..

[JimiSnakes]

Plus, mice are a LOT cheaper than rats! You could feed them two large mice for the price of a rat, maybe even three! Stick with mice for BPs

[Adam_Wysocki]

Mice tend to have a stonger smell and a more gamey taste than rats ... that's my best guess why many balls have a strong tendency to get "stuck" on mice ... more of an impact on their senses.

Your snake will do just as well on mice as on rats ... get er done! ;

-adam

[JLC]

Mice tend to have a stonger smell and a more gamey taste than rats ...
-adam

You've done personal taste tests?

[McAdry]

Am just going to leave adam's post all alone. It pretty much says it all,adam havn't you ever heard of to much information.lmao

[Ginevive]

I just use rats, period. but I understand, smoe people need to use mice because of the scarce availability of smaller rats at most pet stores; many places won't even sell you any rat that isn't weaned yet.
From my smallest '06 girl (the once from Cue) all the way up to my BCI, all of my snakes are on rats; though, the first 2 feedings of my Pastel (who is still acclimating, hasn't been fed by me yet) were admittedly mice, and ginger used to eat mice. I like the rats because I rbeed them myself, and also they don't smell as bad as mice!