Last Attempt Switching from Mice to Rats (F/T)

[ckuhn003]

Has anyone tried the scenting w/ mouse bedding technique when trying to convert from f/t mice to rats? I've had two really successful feedings the last two weeks and I was thinking about trying the conversion again. As a refresher, he regured on his 1st rat pup several months ago and never would take one again. I tried scenting the rat in the same bag of a mouse but that didn't work. Thanks.

[Hannahshissyfix]

Scenting works sometimes but there can be a lot more done. Time of day you offer, room quiet and dark, days since last offering, method of presenting the ft prey, temp of prey, is it wet, rest of your husbandry on point.. I dont know your snakes history but have never not been able to switch a live mouse eater to ft rats so it is definitely possible and Id never say your last attempt. If you go back to feeding mice it's just been wasted time for the snake to go back to square 1 of not being hungry enough to try assuming other husbandry conditions are correct.

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[ckuhn003]

Scenting works sometimes but there can be a lot more done. Time of day you offer, room quiet and dark, days since last offering, method of presenting the ft prey, temp of prey, is it wet, rest of your husbandry on point.. I dont know your snakes history but have never not been able to switch a live mouse eater to ft rats so it is definitely possible and Id never say your last attempt. If you go back to feeding mice it's just been wasted time for the snake to go back to square 1 of not being hungry enough to try assuming other husbandry conditions are correct.
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Feeding is always done w/ minimal light and no noise around 10pm.

He's been eating f/t mice (not live) every 7 days. Thawed in Fridge overnight, ziplock bag warmed in hot water for 30 minutes and heated up w/ a hairdryer for 20-30 seconds.

My hesitation is because I honestly believe the regurgitation happened as a result of realizing he ate a rat and not a mouse. Temps / humidity were on point and remain that way.

[Hannahshissyfix]

Hot water for 30 minutes can cook the rodent and have been the cause of the regurge. It just needs to be slightly warm, then i dry with a paper towel if needed, then just use the blow dryer on its head for a few seconds.

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[ckuhn003]

Hot water for 30 minutes can cook the rodent and have been the cause of the regurge. It just needs to be slightly warm, then i dry with a paper towel if needed, then just use the blow dryer on its head for a few seconds.

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Appreciate the response again but I asked some thawing questions when I 1st got started and everyone said thaw in hot water for 20-30 minutes (I just looked back at that thread for referenced). And to be honest, it's not scalding water. It's just warm to the touch. This site is great but you get so many conflicting answers

Anyone else have any go to tricks for converting f/t mice to f/t rats??

[Bistem]

Anyone else have any go to tricks for converting f/t mice to f/t rats??

Hunger will win eventually. I Highly doubt that the snake will starve itself to death.

[ckuhn003]

So if nobody has any tips on converting, do you think their is a risk of mites if I venture to a local pet store and come away w/ some mouse bedding to scent my f/t rat with??

[ckuhn003]

Tonight marked my 2nd week trying to switch to f/t rats from f/t mice (I've tried in the past and failed). Had both a mouse and a rat thawing together. Heated both up and my BP came all the way out of his hide, cocked and ready to EAT! I was feeling really good about this UNTIL I offered the rat and he retreated back in his hide. I heated it back up, he came out again and then retreated once I offered it. I tried this again and again w/ the same results. I finally decided to offer the heated mouse to see what he would do........BAM he grabbed it and flew back in his hide.

I guess I have a mouser on my hands and need to accept it!!!

[tttaylorrr]

hey! i'm really sorry you've had so much trouble with the transition. TBH i don't have much advice besides tough love. i'm too lucky all my guys made the switch with no issue.

your snake is still young and change is possible! have you tried "tough love"? waiting him out?

[ckuhn003]

hey! i'm really sorry you've had so much trouble with the transition. TBH i don't have much advice besides tough love. i'm too lucky all my guys made the switch with no issue.

your snake is still young and change is possible! have you tried "tough love"? waiting him out?

Kind of....my last go around was when he was rebounding from the rat regurgitation. I went through the process of building him back up w/ several weeks of smaller mice and then large mice which he took successfully. I proceeded by trying several weeks of f/t rats which he refused each week. I was afraid he was getting too skinny and w/ the suggestions of the board, I got him back on mice to build his weight up. The plan was to get him to 400 grams and try again. That's where we are at today. This is all the same batch of f/t rats so I'm wondering if it's a 'normal' rat smell or if a different batch will yeild a different result. Personally, I can't smell anything.....