switching to rats from mice!

[marichi20]

I have a two year old ball (Male). That is currently eating mice. I want switch him to rats. Can any one give me any idea's on how to this?
Thank you for your time.

[kavmon]

is there a particular reason to switch him now after 2 yrs. of mice? if you just want to, i would scent the rat with mice bedding or fur and each week keep reducing until it's all rat.


vaughn

[marichi20]

I Just wanted to bulk him up a little bit. I heard that rats do this to them. I have five others that I want to bulk also. I have an Albino(to a female het albino that I have) that I want to breed some day.
Thanks

[jglass38]

The switch shouldn't be all that hard. I have switched 4 mousers in the last month with no problem. I assume you are feeding PK or FT (I could be wrong though). If so, offer a small PK/FT rat. Make sure it is very warm. I dont think you'll have an issue..Let us know!

[Adam_Wysocki]

I Just wanted to bulk him up a little bit.

Why would you want to "bulk" him up? Is he not maintaining weight on mice?

-adam

[Ozone]

i have same problem i can't switch to rats. i have one 5 month old ball and he eating mice like a burmese but i gave him seprate rat sized as mice and he doesn't want to eat . the rat sleep near the snake like his mother!!!!! i offered him live rat.

[frankykeno]

I'm no expert here folks but if the snakes are growing well on mice and not wanting to take rats, why mess with what is working?

We did switch over recently (and it went fine all around) but it wasn't because the snakes weren't doing fine on mice just with 5 to feed every week, rats were a bit more convenient and a little faster to feed rather than multiple mice. If any of them had turned their noses up at the rats though I'd have been quite happy to keep them eating consistently and happily on mice. Just me personally though.

Just food for thought. Our 7 month old was 17 inches end of May, she now a very solid, girthy 30 inches or slightly more. That's 13 plus inches of growth and a goodly amount of girth in 4 months (she weighs just over a pound).....on mice (she just switched to rats). I can't complain about that kind of growth myself.


~~Jo~~

[Ozone]

finaly my bp ate today frozen rat. i heat the rat and i put the rat on my snake body and he start search for the head without killing the rat(coil) . and he ate.
very gentle snake. i think is bored

[xXGregXx]

switching from mice 2 rats was i think the best thing ive ever done 4 my snake he took the switch no problem now i keep frozen rats in my freezer wraped in tin foil so my mom cant see them

[Ozone]

when i defrost my rats the rat is full of water. i heat the rat to be same as live and then i put it on my snake. did you do the same? i saw many pictures that many people give the rat/chick/mice without heating them. is that possible to do with BP?