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

[tttaylorrr]

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.....

that's right; i apologize for forgetting. that was the right course of action.

TBH ive seen weird preferences like you're describing, mainly with my picky two: Yellow and Spaghetti. Spaghetti let's me know if my rats are too "old" for her, but she'll sometimes eat them anyway if she's hungry enough. my others eat so i know they're not bad, but i guess she's a diva.

you very well might have a mouser. i really wish i had more insight to help but i don't. i hope others can help you once again.

EDIT going back to my old rats: i had a freezer mishap and had to replace my whole stock. Spaghetti was being a usual diva with the older rats i had before the fail. she didn't eat until i offered from my new stock. it does happen.

[Zincubus]

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!!!

Maybe feeding multiple XL / jumbo mice is the way forward ..


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[ckuhn003]

that's right; i apologize for forgetting. that was the right course of action.

TBH ive seen weird preferences like you're describing, mainly with my picky two: Yellow and Spaghetti. Spaghetti let's me know if my rats are too "old" for her, but she'll sometimes eat them anyway if she's hungry enough. my others eat so i know they're not bad, but i guess she's a diva.

you very well might have a mouser. i really wish i had more insight to help but i don't. i hope others can help you once again.

EDIT going back to my old rats: i had a freezer mishap and had to replace my whole stock. Spaghetti was being a usual diva with the older rats i had before the fail. she didn't eat until i offered from my new stock. it does happen.

No worries tttaylorrr.....

I'm intrigued by your rats being 'too old' comment. Repticon is next week so maybe i'll pick up a new batch of rat pups to see if there is a different response. I've always wondered about this batch because he regurged the 1st one I offered and never took the next 4-5 I presented him. It's worth a try....

[ckuhn003]

Maybe feeding multiple XL / jumbo mice is the way forward ..


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If I go this route, I just need to figure out the best way to go about it. I usually don't stick around to see if/when he eats the prey as to not disturb him. Plus a lot of the times he'll drag the prey in his hide so I don't know at what point he's eaten it and ready to be offered another.

How fast do you think I can thaw out another and have it ready? I usually thaw mine overnight. I would also think if he doesn't take the 2nd one then I have to toss it.