Please help! Flannery won't eat rats!

[erinisnice]

This is now the second time she has refused a perfect sized rat. She will eat mice immediately with no problem.
Mice are getting too small for her now, so I would prefer if she ate rats.

What can I do to help "change her mind"?

[jglass38]

To start, scent the rat with dirty mouse bedding. You'll get her there!

[xdeus]

She can go her whole life eating mice, and you can feed multiple mice at a feeding if you wish (wait until your snakes gets it down before offering another). Balls require very little food, and their natural food (African rats) are actually about the size of a mouse.

To get her started on rats you can try to scent the rat using used bedding from a mouse cage. Either put the rat in a paper bag with the mouse bedding, or you can try placing a little of the bedding in her cage about 10 minutes before you offer the rat.

Good luck!

[joepythons]

One way that works for most people trying to switch your snake from mice to rats.Place a rat in some bedding(in a mouse cage) where a mouse lives until feeding time.If you do not have this type of setup,wait past a couple feedings and try a rat crawler(around the size of the mice) and see if this will work.It might take a couple tries though.Some snakes will only eat mice though.Good luck

[jglass38]

Yes! I beat you both to it! I am das weiner!!

[joepythons]

Yes! I beat you both to it! I am das weiner!!

[erinisnice]

If I asked at the store, do you think they'd dump some mouse bedding in the box they put the rat in?

[jglass38]

If I asked at the store, do you think they'd dump some mouse bedding in the box they put the rat in?

I have no doubt! And if you come over here and ask, I'll give you some old cat litter from the cat box Its just less for them to throw out. Good luck!

[xdeus]

Yes! I beat you both to it! I am das weiner!!

Doh!

If I asked at the store, do you think they'd dump some mouse bedding in the box they put the rat in?

LOL. Let me know if they charge, or better yet... if you actually buy some. If so, I'll quit my job and go into the "Used Mouse Bedding" business.

[alexrls]

and their natural food (African rats) are actually about the size of a mouse.

really? i've never hear that before