Should I step up to rats?

[DooLittle]

Gawd, that pic is a terrible set up for a bp. No hides?? They have to have hides. And tubs are imo, better than glass tanks. You need to look into thermostats. I prefer herpstat. There are less expensive ones as well, but that's my preference. From Spyder robotics, they are great to deal with. Reptile basics is also a great place for reptile supplies, and great customer service too.

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[tesslyn]

Gawd, that pic is a terrible set up for a bp. No hides?? They have to have hides. And tubs are imo, better than glass tanks. You need to look into thermostats. I prefer herpstat. There are less expensive ones as well, but that's my preference. From Spyder robotics, they are great to deal with. Reptile basics is also a great place for reptile supplies, and great customer service too.

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Yeah that's what I thought when I saw the picture on CL. The mice had a better enclosure then that. I've been looking at thermostats at reptile basics a lot. I plan on purchasing one after I get paid Tuesday

[AK907]

I would definitely get her started on rats ASAP. They can eat appropriately sized rats right out of the egg. Being she is an adult mouser, don't get discouraged if it takes a few tries to get her to switch. A few missed meals won't hurt her none. Scenting the rat might help if she is being stubborn as well. You seem to be on the right track, though.

[glk832]

I start small rats at about 350-400 grams if they are good eats.. If not nice sized weaned rats will be enoug probably twice a week until they make the switch to smalls..A BP that size should be on small rats by now..pray that its not hook on mice that could be anoying

[johnmauser]

These are really nice thermostats for the price. I use them and so do a lot of other people on this site.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...words=herpstat

Goodluck with converting her over to rats. I've converted all of my BP's over to to F/T rats but it was done when they were still young. I had one bp that got fed a few f/t mice when I was out of f/t rats. She decided she liked them and refused to take a rat after that. I started rubbing a thawed mouse all over the thawed rats and she would eat them when she smelled the scent. After a few feeds I got her back on unscented f/t rats.

In the long run you will save money if you can get her on frozen. Most pet stores (at least here) charge $5 for a live rat. I can get frozen ones for about $2ea online or at reptile shows. That's a big savings over the years and a lot less hassle since they're in your freezer whenever you need one.

[tesslyn]

These are really nice thermostats for the price. I use them and so do a lot of other people on this site.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...words=herpstat

Goodluck with converting her over to rats. I've converted all of my BP's over to to F/T rats but it was done when they were still young. I had one bp that got fed a few f/t mice when I was out of f/t rats. She decided she liked them and refused to take a rat after that. I started rubbing a thawed mouse all over the thawed rats and she would eat them when she smelled the scent. After a few feeds I got her back on unscented f/t rats.

In the long run you will save money if you can get her on frozen. Most pet stores (at least here) charge $5 for a live rat. I can get frozen ones for about $2ea online or at reptile shows. That's a big savings over the years and a lot less hassle since they're in your freezer whenever you need one.

That is actually the exact thermostat I have been looking at! Glad to hear they work good for the money

[darthkevin]

I just made the switch to rats 2 feedings ago. Today I put her in the corner of her feeder tub and put the fuzzy right in front of her and blammo. Quickest I have ever seen her eat. But as the rats get older you need to use a pair if tongs or a #2 pencil (it "locks" the rats teeth better then metal) to stop the rat from biting your snake.

[tesslyn]

I just made the switch to rats 2 feedings ago. Today I put her in the corner of her feeder tub and put the fuzzy right in front of her and blammo. Quickest I have ever seen her eat. But as the rats get older you need to use a pair if tongs or a #2 pencil (it "locks" the rats teeth better then metal) to stop the rat from biting your snake.

Congrats! Thats a great idea about the tongs, I will have to get a pair soon before I feed her again

[spersky]

The reason he was not likely able to convert her to F/T was because that was horrible housing. She was constantly stressed out. Once you get her in a stable environment with good temps, humidity, she will switch to F/T no problem.

I just uploaded a video on it yesterday. You might want to check it out. It is a technique that works great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Hz9XkNv4VM

[johnmauser]

Hair Dryers work well too. I'll usually sit down in front of my rack with all of my thawed rats and start going over them with the hair driyer to heat them up. The positive to this is after a couple minutes with the hair dryer, the snakes have picked up on the scent of warm rat in the air, and they know its feed time. Most of my snakes are sitting at the front of their tubs drooling before I even feed the first rat out.