Switching fro mice to rats diffucult sanke help?

[RestlessRobie]

So my sons normal PB Peek a Boo came to use eating hopper mice not a big deal but he has just hit the 175g mark and figured I would switch him to rats. First rat pup no problem. Second rat pup no problem. So I get a freezer full of rat fuzzies for my pied and pups for our normal. Then suddenly he seems afraid of rats. I try a mouse and he attacks it cause he is hungry after his 3 week no rat fast. So next week I scent the rat with a mouse and scent the room with the same mouse. Good strike and coil so I check him half an hour later and well he has drug the rat around his enclosure and it is now covered with substrate. I remove the rat and clean it and move Peek to a seperate tub and he eats the mouse. So what am I doing wrong or is Peek a Boo just being a pain in the butt. My next step is either feed a very small mouse followed with a small rat or brain the mouse and scent the rat. Any other sugestions would be greatly appreciated as I now have a freezer full of rats and well dont want to waste them. Nor do I want to feel an adult PB 2-3 mice at a time when he gets full grown.

[TimNA]

Just be persistent, I have had a few exactly like yours. Eventually they have switched over, some easier than others. Seems like your doing everything right.

Just make sure that you don't scare them with the rats otherwise it will be very difficult. I just do the zombie dance at the other end of the tub they eventually get curious enough and approach on their own.

[mandalorian]

My JCP was just like that. I put a frozen rat pup in a bag with a bunch of frozen mice hoppers and did the ol shake and no-bake. After a couple of minutes, thawed out the rat pup and hit it with the blow dryer. My JCP sniffed at the rat like a my yorkies sniff around and grabbed it while hanging on his perch. Never had a problem with rats again. Btw, will probably be in the same situation with you pretty soon. Just got a new pinstripe that I will eventually switch over to f/t rat pups. Hope this helps.

[snake lab]

Could possibly be a temp issue. Are you sure they are thawed good? Are they too warm? Was his response better on live? This is the reason i feed live. Im not turning this into live versus frozen. I always seem to have good results with live cause if they dont eat the rat isnt wasted. But switching over from mice to rats can be a chore. Just be patient and keep trying. I wouldnt scent it to mice just cause then your gonna have to keep doing that. I would be persistent. Eventually the switch will happen. Just keep in mind they can go a while without food so just stay the course

[RestlessRobie]

Aye I hate wasting rats like that and the temps where within a degree or 2 of each other checked with my IR gun. Mostly I am venting cause I got a freezer full od rats and now he doesnt like them

[meowmeowkazoo]

Definitely start scenting the rats. Also warm them up with a hairdryer, that seems to be a magical trick that makes any prey item more interesting. Make sure you dry them off well, it helps keep substrate from sticking to them. Also just try leaving it overnight, that often works. Good luck!

[fatman28]

My female was difficult south switching from mice to rats as well. At first she was terrified of the rats and I just couldn't get her to strike. As others have mentioned, scenting did the trick. I've been doing overnight thaws with mine. Good luck on the switch, but keep in mind that some balls are just too darn stubborn.

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[RestlessRobie]

UPDATE he ate a rat LG fuzzie 18g rat this evening thanks for all the advice lets hope he keeps it up

[pigfat]

Nice, mine has been on rats but I couldn't get any so I got a hopper mouse and he took it no problems at all. I guess im just lucky