Weaning of mice to rats? How?

[ReptileCraz]

Okay so I got this ball python in Janurary (never held him, only when I clean his cage, and put him in a holding tank) and he is I think 3 1/2 -4 ft. I think is an an '09 but not sure. He weighs 1097 kg. I started in April to get him to eat rats. Okay so the mice are becoming way to small and need to eat rats now. He wont eat any rats at all. I try feeding him on or a couple of mice but only eat one. I tryed puyting it one mouse at a time, once he eats one that mouse then I put the other. I also tryed putting 2 at a time and no he eats only one mouse . I tried skipping a meal then feeding him a small rat (the size of a jumbo mouse so he thinks its a mouse) but no . I also tried putting the rat in the mouse enclousre for an hour. How Can I get him to eat rats?

Around 3 1/2 to 4 ft


He is 1097 kg

[mues155]

Are you feeding live or frozen/thawed?

[RichsBallPythons]

offer a small rat pup with eyes closed LIVE and leave it in over night.

The privacy of night feeding will usually switch them. But if this snake has been on mice for a while its going to take more patience.

[ReptileCraz]

I he wont eat dead mice or rats. I try the pup

[ReptileCraz]

My store doesn't sell any rat pup we would have to order them dead

[Evenstar]

My store doesn't sell any rat pup we would have to order them dead

Some bps won't ever eat rats. That's rare, but it does happen. I wouln't give up yet, but keep it in mind. To a snake, a rat and a mouse are completely different prey items. He knows that a small rat pup is a rat and not a mouse even if it is about the same size as an adult mouse. It smells different and, to him, it looks different too.

Having said that, there is no real reason he can't go on eating mice. Although he should be getting a larger meal by now. You say he'll only eat 1 mouse at a time? Try feeding 1 mouse every 5 days instead of only once a week if that's the case. And get the largest jumbo mice you can find. I found retired breeders from a vendor that weighed in around 45-55 grams each - so the big ones are out there - you may have to just look hard.

But to switch to rats, try putting the rat with the mice for a while before feeding. And, this is kind of gross, but if you can rub some of the mouse's blood on the rat, this might help too (if you're feeding f/t). I would still try Rich's idea first though. Look online for rodent sources - you might find rat pups available in the next town over for instance. Sometimes, you have to search for these things.

These are just some thoughts, but I hope they help. Good luck!

[ReptileCraz]

k thanks i try to find some rat pups but in the mean while i will feed him every 5 days. The blood rubbing seems a little to nasty, that will be my last resort.