What should i do?

[BPelizabeth]

I am just going to have to get over my fear of introducing something new and try the rats. I have no idea why I am so nervous about it....call me the paranoid mama. lol

The hubby suggests it each week and Im like...noooooo not this week Im such a baby!!

[Elise.m]

I am just going to have to get over my fear of introducing something new and try the rats. I have no idea why I am so nervous about it....call me the paranoid mama. lol

The hubby suggests it each week and Im like...noooooo not this week Im such a baby!!

Lol, I was the same way. When Snickets took the rat so willingly, I was so relieved.

[BallsUnlimited]

I always feed my snakes fresh killed rodents. Ive never really had a problem feeding frozen thawed or fresh killed. Ive had ones that would only take rats over mice or gerbils over mice\rats. If it will only eat live try feed it by holding it with tongs and make aure the snake gets a good grip on it. If the mouth is exposed to the snakes body you can pull back the rodents mouth as the snake constricts it. Leaving the mouse hopeless of ever getting a bite off. This is the method i use for feeding live rodents and havent had a rodent bite a snake in years. I made the mistake of leaving a live rat in with my 8 foot burm when i was around 12 years old and the snake was bitten behind the head and passed away a week later. Ever since its been fresh killed,frozen thawed or live but i make sure they get a good bite. If they dont i use the method above to avoid any injurys.

[Toronto Python Gurus]

You wouldn't think this, but Rats don't usually bite. In my experience if you're feeding live, feed rats.

Sorry to hear the news,
Jim Smith

same here everyone eats live and no problems

[angllady2]

On the few occasions when I've hed to feed live mice, I break the neck. I just grip the mouse right behind the head with feeding tongs, grab the tail and pull, HARD.

The sound is not pleasant, and the mouse will twitch for several seconds after. So, if you have everything ready beforehand, that might work.

Otherwise, go with rats. A fuzzy rat is almost the same size as a young adult mouse, but is basically helpless. It does not have it's eyes open yet and I don't think it could harm the snake. Of course, if you are sensitive like me, it takes a little bit of stomach to go that route, but it comes down to what is best for your snake.

Gale

[BPelizabeth]

Ok...this Saturday...I am going to try rats...oye. Everyone say little prayers for me to be brave...lol. As I am the biggest baby when it comes to my kids. I know I am totally over reacting...but.....

Do you guys pre-kill the rats?

By the way sorry to Hijack

[j_h_smith]

Ok...this Saturday...I am going to try rats...oye. Everyone say little prayers for me to be brave...lol. As I am the biggest baby when it comes to my kids. I know I am totally over reacting...but.....

Do you guys pre-kill the rats?

By the way sorry to Hijack

What size mouse were you using? You will probably be using pups, crawlers or small rats. Pups and crawlers couldn't bite to hurt if they wanted to. Small rats coould bite, but I've never seen it happen. I used to breed Dumeril Boas and the big females took jumbo rats. When I couldn't get frozen and had to feed live, I didn't pre kill and my Dumerils woould never get biten. Although if you've ever seen a Dumeril feed, some would be amazed how fast a rat can be eaten.

You can pre kill if you'd like but I feed live and don't.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

[withonor]

I feed F/T to mine. I use a pair of 18" hemostats and grab them by the scruff of the neck. Sometimes I get a quick response which is awesome. When they don't take it immediately I "walk" the rat around the tub like a puppet. Make shuffling vibrations, have it run away from the snake, etc... to simulate a hunt. Aside from the female I have that hasn't eaten for me yet (Four refusals earned her some time in a 6qt tub to try and help her settle), the other three have eaten every frozen they were offered and then some.

To give some perspective though. Last night my strongest female feeder came out and missed her first strike, I think she make have hit the hemostats because she seemed a little hesitant. I left the rat in there for an hour. Came back, heated it up and offered it again. She showed interest but didn't take the song and dance. Left it in there for a couple hours and repeated the process. She hit it on the side, wrapped and started the swallowing process. I left her alone for maybe another 45 minutes before I went back to check if she got it down. She didn't but she tried hard enough that she skinned the side of the rat exposing the rib cage. Last try because she has tried to eat it a couple times, I heated it again and didn't the "walk" around and she got it by the headish and was able to get it down.

In some cases it can take patience and reading your snake. This process this time was lapsed over 6+ hours. I stuck with it and she stuck with it and everyone's happy. This morning she finished her shed too.

[BPelizabeth]

What size mouse were you using? You will probably be using pups, crawlers or small rats. Pups and crawlers couldn't bite to hurt if they wanted to. Small rats coould bite, but I've never seen it happen. I used to breed Dumeril Boas and the big females took jumbo rats. When I couldn't get frozen and had to feed live, I didn't pre kill and my Dumerils woould never get biten. Although if you've ever seen a Dumeril feed, some would be amazed how fast a rat can be eaten.

You can pre kill if you'd like but I feed live and don't.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

Right now two of my snakes are taking one jumbo mouse every 7 days(and one of them looks at you like...ok...where is the next one). My little baby is taking two medium size adults every 7 days. What size rats do you suggest?

[Jenn]

Small to medium should be fine. Use the girth rule. But, I would make the first rat a bit smaller than girth, and make it smell like a mouse first.