Rat color?

[Gunner253]

My recently acquired mojave adult male who has yet to eat in the 2.5 weeks I've had him. I was told by the previous owner that he did lock up with a female this season so that could be a reason. I was also told that he only ate rats and they had to be brown or black and live. I've tried a normal med ft rat, a small black hooded ft rat and a small hooded fk rat and he had zero interest. I'm just trying everything easily available to me before I go buy find a colored rat or try to feed him live. I guess my question is is does color really matter that much to them? If so can you break that habit? I can find colored tats but they are much farther away and I'd prefer to not drive so far each time I need a feeder. Btw I did also try braining and his temps are all good.

[Reinz]

I never thought about it until the clerk at the petstore asked me one day what color my snake preferred. They had always given me white, and now they put this seed of doubt in my mind.


But it turned out for me it did not matter. She takes any color. Which is good because I found a breeder that sells rats at a fraction of what the pet store sells them for and most of his rats are colored rats.

[DVirginiana]

Hm... Maybe try feeding in the dark. That way the snake won't be able to see the contrast and be picky maybe? They're nocturnal hunters, so you wouldn't think color would have a lot to do with it, but if it does I'm willing to bet they are just looking at the contrast difference between black and white rats.

[lunasjy]

I have a snake that will only eat white rats and males... he will not eat females, even if they are white. It is weird. I am lucky that white rats are very easy to find.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Adult males and females often go off feed with their new owners, nothing unusual, it's a question of making sure your husbandry is optimal, that you feed the same type prey that was previously offered (live) and PATIENCE.

So just offer live rats (this is what he is used to) and he will resume feeding when he is ready and since it's a breeder (meaning he has some size to him) there is nothing to worry about.

Once he does eat for you, than you can start switching him.

[Gunner253]

Adult males and females often go off feed with their new owners, nothing unusual, it's a question of making sure your husbandry is optimal, that you feed the same type prey that was previously offered (live) and PATIENCE.

So just offer live rats (this is what he is used to) and he will resume feeding when he is ready and since it's a breeder (meaning he has some size to him) there is nothing to worry about.

Once he does eat for you, than you can start switching him.

yeah very true. I know he was breeding to do it's very possible he's just more into finding another lady right now than eating. I'm just nervous about feeding live to him bc of the dangers involved. Especially with him showing so little interest it makes it more dangerous

[Gunner253]

I do feed in the dark too btw. I've heard before that color can matter I've just never owned a snake that had that problem lol

[phil89]

I have two snakes that WILL NOT eat males. So it wouldn't surprise me that some snakes would have some quirks

[SnakeBalls]

The dangers are pretty minimal, just take your time. I stick my ball in a seperate container (flame suit on) with a lid on it, the hold the mouse/rat closest to the base of the tail as I can get, in one of the corners of the tub. The mouse is facing down so he can't really see it coming. Ulfrics pretty good about it now. Grabs it on the neck, behind the head and snatches it right up.

For whatever reason feeding live mice is so much easier for me than feeding live rats. The mice are dopy, the rats seem to act as if they know its coming and accept it. Kinda sad. Singing the circle of life from lion king will help make it easier.

[Gunner253]

Thanks guys, I'm gonna wait a few more days before trying again and I'll just go for it with a live one.