Ok I'm going to weigh in here on this.

  • 2008 I hatched out 20 snakes, started them all on mice, 15 out of the 20 took rats after two meals and never looked back. 3 of the remaining 5 took longer to switch over, the last two haven't touched anything but mice from day one
  • 2009 I hatched 30 snakes, some started with no problem on rats some took mice all of the switched over to rats after 2 meal's
  • 2010 I hatched 30 snakes started every single one of the on ASF hoppers. Every single one of them ate the first time offered and switched to rats after their second meal and did just fine.
  • 2011 I've hatched roughly 72 babies some have started on rats first meal some need mice to get going, all of my mousers so far have switched over just fine.


The biggest problem I have is with adults one more than one animal I have seen them go for long fasts and long time rat eaters go literally 6+ months off food ad only come back on after being offered ASF or mice. The problem is then that they seem ,most of the time, to get stuck on them. Now not all mind you but some do seem to get a taste for them and not want anything else. Only after breeding and laying eggs did two of mine switch from eating only ASF for 2+ years to eating rats again.

Babies due to their nature seem to be more eager to switch back and forth the ones that haven't I've notice have been trouble starters, at least for me.

My motto.. Feed them what they'll eat. But don't be shocked if you can't sell a mouser only snake or an ASF only snake.