Help! in need of some advise with our beloved BP....

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we have had our ball python for a year and we are still learning everyday. i was advised to put him in a bigger tank and feed him rats instead of mice. i tried a small rat and he seems uninterested. he should be hungry and has been roaming the tank alot.

[Inknsteel]

How big is the snake and how big of a tank did you put him in? What are your temps and humidity? Also, when did you change him to the new tank and how long did you wait to offer?

It can be difficult to get picky mousers to switch over to rats, so first things first, make sure your new tank is set up properly and is an appropriate size for your bp. Once you move the snake, it would be a good idea to wait and let him acclimate to the new environment before offering. It could be stress related refusal, it could have something to do with the setup, or it could just be that the snake is used to mice and the rat has an unfamiliar smell.

How big is the rat in comparison to the mice you've been feeding?

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he is 3 feet 4 inches not very thick. i moved him from a 20 gallon to a 55. he has plenty of places to hide. heat on the bottom under hide and a lamp above. tank is 85 degrees warmer in his hide. i dont know the humidity. i didnt know i was supposed to measure that. he has been in the new tank for a week. very active. i thought he was hungry he has a small mouse a week ago. but he just passed by the rat.