Small problem with feeding

[The Hedgehog]

Of my two babies, my pastel is a MONSTER feeder. I could probably feed her every 3 days and she will always take a rat. My normal was a decent feeder for a while, but now I can't get her to eat always.

Is it possible because I thaw out the rat and the large mouse in the same bag, that my normal won't eat the mouse because it smells like the rat? I have a feeling this may be a problem but I was also hoping that it would make the transition easy for her to rats.

So is this a potential problem?

[Kymberli]

That definitely could be your problem! I just discovered about 30mins ago that scent does matter, lol. Upgraded my BP from mice to rats tonight and when I offered him the rat he acted like it didn't exist.. but I happened to have a couple mice left over so I thawed one out, rubbed the warm mouse all over the rat and he grabbed it right away! I just hope I won't have to "scent" it forever :/

[sparticus]

I don't have any insight in regards to the smell of mice vs rats... I didn't think they'd really smell that different but then again I'm not a snake and I don't eat rats or mice LOL

But to the OP, each snake is different. Some are voracious eaters and some are picky but most likely these things change and are not always true of the snake at all points during their life. Assuming your husbandry is correct, it could just be that she doesn't feel like eating. My pastel went on a hunger strike when he reached the 800gram plateau and didn't eat for a month. He finally ate last night but I wasn't that worried because this is very common in bps and he wasn't losing weight.