how to switch jcp from mice-rats

[tumy]

hi, how can i change my jcp diet from mice to rats? i have 2 jcp both around a year old,the female is regulary feeding on f/t small rats but my male won't accept rats,he only wants mice, i've tried chain feeding him with rats after offering a mice fuzzy,problem is he will simply let go of the rats when he realize its not a mice,help pls... will it help if i will not feed him for around a week or two? thanks in advance

[Clear]

Take a thawed rat and wash it with dawn to get the scent off and rub it really good with mice and offer. See if that helps for you!

[mainbutter]

Yup exactly what clear said.

I'd go to trying to scent with mice, or if that doesn't work I'd try chicks if they were available.

[Clear]

I have never tried chicks, heard it causes runny poop.

[mainbutter]

Just about any change in regular diet to something completely new can cause unusual bowel movemetnts, this is where the "runny poop" rumors come form.

JCPs eat birds in the wild, but when they eat nothing but rodents in captivity for a few years, their bodies don't digest the avian proteins as well. Or at least this is my understanding.

However, chicks still smell like good food to most JCPs, so scenting a rat with a chick is sometimes a good trick.

[Clear]

I might grab some chicks and see how well my bredli's do with them.

[Colin Vestrand]

i experimented with chicks and it did not cause runny poop, but compairing those snakes to snakes that were fed an all rat diet is no comparison. the chick fed snakes are half the size.
so, if you're feeding chicks and your snakes like them (i think most would) then you may want to increase the frequency at which you feed.

[Lucas339]

i know for finicky green tree pythons just the sent of a chick will help them feed. maybe try that before you devote yourself to an entire new feeder type. ive herd a few featers on the head of a feeder is all it takes.

[tumy]

thanks guys i'll try to wash the rats and scent it with mice hope he likes it

[Brandon Osborne]

In my experience, some carpets just will not switch at all. Good luck.