Need some help.....

[Nate]

Small rats are fine. You don't have to keep increasing the rat size as the snake gets bigger.

I usually look at RodentPro for reference.

http://www.rodentpro.com/images/size_r_small.jpg

their small rats are 45-84 grams, so you should be fine in that range.

[L.West]

As far as I know she has never been fed live prey - I don't think she would know what to do with it - LOL.

[LadyOhh]

Don't doubt the predatory instincts of a snake.

[Nate]

As far as I know she has never been fed live prey - I don't think she would know what to do with it - LOL.

trust me, she will know

[L.West]

I just worry with introducing mites, diseases with feeding her live prey - I really hope I don't have to do that. You really think she would prefer live prey when she has never had live prey before???

[stratus_020202]

I am thawing out one of her smaller rats that she is used to and will offer it tonight to see if she takes it. This hobby is getting a bit stressful for me - I hate when any of my pets won't eat.

I hope I didn't waste $30 on the larger rats if she decides she just won't eat them - ugh!!!!

Just by a bigger snake! Lol. You can never have too many.

[L.West]

No Thanks about getting another snake - I worry too much about taking care of just one.

By the way, how do you all warm up your f/t prey??? I have been heating it up on a human heating pad and then offering it - what does everyone else do - maybe I am doing something wrong??

Thanks,

[Nate]

I just worry with introducing mites, diseases with feeding her live prey - I really hope I don't have to do that. You really think she would prefer live prey when she has never had live prey before???

I understand you're worried - but I've always worried more about properly thawing the food, over my live food source. The pet store I go to has a pretty good reputation and history and I don't worry too much about it.

I don't know if she will prefer it over f/t. You have to try

By the way, how do you all warm up your f/t prey??? I have been heating it up on a human heating pad and then offering it - what does everyone else do - maybe I am doing something wrong??

I thaw them for a few hours, and usually use a human heat pad set on the lowest possible setting.

I also have experimented around with putting them in a plastic bag in hot water.

Both methods work. It's just a matter of comfort for you.

[L.West]

Thanks Nate......if it does come down to me having to feed her live prey - I would only want to buy one rat each week - I don't want to have to keep live prey around the house....where would I find a place to buy one rat each week and how do I make sure they are a good healthy source for feeders???

[Nate]

Thanks Nate......if it does come down to me having to feed her live prey - I would only want to buy one rat each week - I don't want to have to keep live prey around the house....where would I find a place to buy one rat each week and how do I make sure they are a good healthy source for feeders???

Well, finding a source is the hard part.

I would start by looking around on craigslist, or posting a "wanted" ad in your local area that you need some feeders once a week.

Most people will make you come get it - which is good, because then you have an opportunity to see how well kept their mice and rats are. a nice clean and well cared for place usually means well cared for animals too.

Feel free to ask them questions about how they breed, what they feed, etc.