Switching to rats

[Kenj620]

I've been trying to switch all my ball pythons over to rats, but there are a couple that refuse them every time I have offered, but will eat mice. I've tried letting the rats run around in used mice shavings to get the scent but no luck with that either. Should I offer them a rat every few days until they take it or just give up and let them stay on Mice? The 2 balls that I am having trouble with are young adults that I've mostly fed African soft furreds and mice their entire lives. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Clint Bundy]

I have a few mousers that I haven't been able to trick into eating rats yet. Like you, I have tried the mouse bedding trick to no avail. I would love to know why they do this but I just figure that I will feed them what they like. I still do try to slip a rat in there every other time I feed them though. Sadly I have had some rat eaters that have never had a mouse before switch to eating mice only now. I have faith that I will get them back on rats soon.

[Daybreaker]

Not sure if you feed strictly live, but if you could try F/T I would rub a thawed mouse over the thawed rat to try to scent it to smell like a mouse and try that. Might be something to try if you've exhausted other tricks?

[benwallage9]

one thing i've read of people doing is raising the rat or asf in with mice so they have that scent always on them... If you don't breed your own what I suggest and what has worked from mine is wait them out. It may take a mouth but eventually they will get hungry enough to eat. If they don't eat after like two months and start losing alot of weight you may just have to feed them multiple mice in one sitting. I've never had a problem getting bps to eventually eat on rats though it just takes patience and time

[francisco_24]

I didn't want to start a new thread, so i'll hijack this one since its similar to my situation.

I picked up some rat fuzzies at the reptile show on Saturday, in hopes of switching over my bp to rats. I tried feeding him a while ago, but he wasn't interested.

I've had him for over a month now and has never missed a meal. & I know hes hungry because hes been roaming around the past couple of days like he usually does when hes hungry.

So my question is...what do I do?
Should I wait till next time and try a rat again?
or should I just go out and buy some mice and feed him tomorrow?

Thanks

[decensored]

I did piggy backing with good success. You offer the life ASF, and just as the BP is finishing swallowing as he's working on the tail, insert a F/T rat into its mouth and wait for it to continue to swallow. I got my pastel girl to switch dirrectly from ASF to F.T this way. She takes the F/T Norway as soon as it's offered now.

I'll have a video on thursday if your interested.

[francisco_24]

cant wait for the video!

thanks!

[Royal Hijinx]

I may try this piggy back technique to get my mouser on rats.