Switching from ASF to FT Rats????

[BoaFreak]

O.K. here it goes. I purchased a late 09 pinstripe female a little over a year ago that was feeding on live SM rats and was around the 710g mark. My entire collection eats FT rats without hesitation so after I let her settle in a few days i offered her a F/T SM rat. She didn't strike it but the next morning it ws gone. . The next week, same thing. After taking 2 FT rats she went completely off feed for almost 4 months. In that period she didn't loose much of any weight. I continued to try to feed her weekly adn after the second month of her refusing I tried Live rats. Still nothing . I even tried Live mice I was getting desprate to end her strike. Well once I got up to the 3 and a half month mark I have a friend that breeds ASFs and he talked me into offering her one. She attacked that ASF with a vengance and have been eating them ever since. I have tried to switch her a few months ago by putting a rat in the same container with the asf and offering it to her. She took an interest at first but not for long. After about 2 hours of watching her avoid the rat I took the rat out and Immediately put inthe ASF and BAM she struke it within a few seconds. I am wondering if I just quit offering ASFs and only offer her a F/T if she will eventually eat?? The ASFs I use are smaller than she needs and it is becomming a pain to get. He is the only person that I know of around my place that has them and he is having personal problems and would like to no longer have to depend on him for one of my BP's. Any sugestions are welcome. thanks and sorry for the LONG post.

[WingedWolfPsion]

I would try waiting an extra week, then actually rubbing the rat in ASF pee. (They usually pee in one corner of their cage, so just use the latrine for scenting).

[BoaFreak]

I use a critter keeper to transport the Life asf from his house to mine. The rat was in with the ASF for a good 2 hours but I will do that. I will wait an extra week to feed her where I know she is hungery and try to sent the rat that way. Thanks

[spitzu]

Yeah just keep scenting. If that doesn't work after a while there are some more disgusting and gory ways to go about it.

[FrankieCarbone]

i had the same issue, with my old normal months back, what u have to do is, get your ASF breeder, to give u the stinkiest, nastiest bedding from where he keeps his ASF's, then u buy a mouse, or in your case your frozen one, and throw him in that stinky bedding and leave him in there in the critter keeper, same thing i used by the way, for a good 30-60 minutes. I usually do a quick shake (almost as if u were coating a piece of chicken in flour) then throw him in. That worked for me until eventually he was taking regular mice liek he was taking ASF's.