BP eats a mouse but not an ASF?

[Ninjette]

I bought an ASF from the pet store to feed my large adult BP. I threw the rat in with my snake, alive, and he seems interested - follows the rat all over the cage - but does not strike. I went out and bought a mouse and he took that with no problem. I put the rat back in after he swallowed the mouse and he still will not strike the ASF! I don't understand why he won't take him. He's had regular rats, mice and even a dwarf hamster once. Why won't he take the ASF?

[Rhasputin]

Maybe he's confused by the smell.
If he's eating mice, I'd just keep him on mice. They're cheaper and easier to come by anyways.

[Ninjette]

I've already bought myself a pregnant female (who had 6 babies) ASF to start breeding. Since they don't have a big smell to them, that's why I'm interested in breeding for the snake food. I can't stand the smell of mice and regular rats >_<

[Rhasputin]

Ah. Keep trying them. Maybe scent them with mouse?

You can put a female mouse in the cage with your ASFs, it should work out fine. They're known for co-habitating well. Maybe that'll get mouse smell on the ASF and get your snake more interested.

[Ninjette]

I just went out and bought another female mouse and put her in with my male ASF. I had the male in a somewhat small critter carrier as he was trying to eat the newborn pinkies I have. He started fighting with her >_< How else could I get mouse scent on the ASF?

[m00kfu]

When I have to scent rats with ASF I'll take week old ASF bedding, put it in a seperate container and then let the rat hang out in there most of the day. That usually does the trick to get my ASF eating snakes to take down a rat.

[Ninjette]

I got King (my large adult BP) to eat the ASF. I held him and the mouse up by their tails and let the mouse crawl all over the ASF and then tossed him in the tank and King went right for him ^_^