Ball python refuses rats!

[rabernet]

My ball python has always eaten live mice throughout the course of her 3 year life and now she needs to move on to medium rats but just wont make the change. Can anybody offer some help or provide tips on how to do this?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a snake being a mouser her entire life.

She doesn't NEED to move to medium rats, if mice are sustaining her. YOU may need her to move, but SHE doesn't need to move.

I would recommend small mediums, or small rats. Ask for some mouse bedding at the pet store (in a paper sack is fine), and then put a handful of the mouse bedding in the front of her enclosure. When you see her start actively looking for the source of that scent - drop in a small white rat. She should be "turned on" by the scent of the mouse bedding and then when presented with a live warm rodent will immediately hit on it.

If that doesn't work - then you have to use "tough love" (only if she's in good body condition). Offer rats and only rats each week. No more mice - until she gets hungry enough to take a rat.

If she loses significant amounts of weight, you'll want to offer her mice again. Don't ever extend tough love if you have a particularly stubborn animal to the point of risking your animal's health.