Feeding idea!

[First_time_herp]

I heard somewhere on the forums that there is a breeder that rotates between feeding adult mice and a rat of the same size to his snakes. Has anyone ever tried this?

[Tigergenesis]

I can't seem to find the post with the breeder that practices this (and I believe he/she does it with newborns - not sure if he/she continues it into adulthood), but here's a post on the subject with another person who does so as well.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showt...threadid=40492

[First_time_herp]

Cool! thanks!

[hhw]

I read somewhere that the best way to switch ball pythons to rats is to take two smaller prey items that would make up one usual meal; 1 mouse, 1 rat. You feed the mouse first and give it the rat immediately afterwards (letting you ball python take the rat itself of course, not forcefeeding or anything silly like that). Supposedly, once triggered, the feeding response is so strong that it will carry through to the 2nd prey item. After a few times, when your snake has grown accustomed to the taste and smell of rats you can just feed them appropriate sized rats from then onwards.

Is that what you meant?

[Smulkin]

Scenting worked nonproblematic for us in making the transition. Last feed when thawing the rats their claws poked through the bag and we wound up with some soggy feeders Needless to say the scent was markedly decreased after drying em back out. I am sure it was traumatic for our live rats having corpses of their bretheren rubbed all over em. But the second try (first attempt NONE of the snakes were interested in these nonsmelling items) they all CHAWMPED on em. Never been so glad to have a couple mice/rats skittering around for that scenting reason alone.

[First_time_herp]

I didn'y mean rotate as in transition, I mean like ever other week he feeds mice than rats, so that his snakes get the best nutrition possible.

[Tigergenesis]

I know it can't hurt. A little variety never hurt anyone!

[First_time_herp]

Yeah, but now I need money to buy an extra bag of rats.

[Tigergenesis]

LOl. At least it's an option, but not a requirement.

[First_time_herp]

Yeah, but I'd still feel better knowing that my snake is getting enough nutrients. And plus it would eliminate the hassle of switching him/her over to rats.