Switching to F/T Rats this week....

[L.West]

I am a little nervous about the switch - I have been feeding her mice since I got her about 6 months ago but she is getting too big for mice and really needs to be switched to rats.

Should I do anything different when I offer her the rat opposed to the mice she is used to.

I have been advised to rub a mouse on the rat to scent it - any other helpful suggestions.

She has never refused a meal and does not appear to be finicky.

Thanks.

[MATT FISHER REPTILES]

i would just try to feed a nicely warmed f/t rat. and then if you have trouble then i would try something else. if you were feeding live mice and are now doing f/t rats. you might need to dangle the rat right infront of the snake. but dong tuch the snake in the face if you tuch them in the face they will most of the time pull back and be done with you. good luck

[L.West]

She has always been on F/T so hopefully she doesn't notice that I switch to rats??? LOL

If she refuses the rat - should I go ahead and give her the mice that she is used to or let her get good and hungry until the next weeks feeding and try the rat again??

Help.

[stangs13]

As long as she isn't skinny go ahead and not feed her. I bet she will eat it!

[MATT FISHER REPTILES]

if she refuses the rat wait 7 days and try again then if she dosnt eat wait 7 more days and try again. if after two weeks she dosnt eat for you feed her a mouse then in 7 days try a rat agian. now if still no dice. would buy a live mouse and put a f/t rat in with it over night. this is just one of many ways of scenting.

but we are getting way ahead of our snake here. just try to feed and then if after 2-3 weeks it wont eat then we go to the drawing board.

[L.West]

Ok - thanks so much for all the info.

I will let you guys know how Wednesday night feeding goes.

[L.West]

Just an update - I offered Bella her first rat last night and she ate it without any hesitation. I did scent it with a mouse but that was it.

Do you think since she took the rat readily that I should be on easy street with her going forward??

Thanks.