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Switching from mice to rats?

Carinata

Carinata

Ever Evolving Exotics
I have never had a snake that is picky like Jasmine be too big for mice and well mice are really no object for her anymore. What is the easiest way to switch a delicate animal from mice to rats?
 
I could give her two mice BUT I try to give the snake 1 prey item if I can to save money and such.
 
Oh, I completely understand that!
But you have something that is healthy for her, that she will eat.
And sometimes rats cost alot more than mice.
 
starsevol said:
Oh, I completely understand that!
But you have something that is healthy for her, that she will eat.
And sometimes rats cost alot more than mice.
Click to expand...

I know a guy that sells me rats for a really good price at the show. She could easily take a weaned rat!
 
To be perfectly honest, I prefer giving rats rather than mice- they have more muscle tissue... I always see a more visible growth spurt once I switch my boas to weaned rats- much moreso than two adult mice.

Matter of opinion though
 
Something that worked for me on a picky rat snake was to take 1-2 thawed mice and rub it/them all over a thawed rat and then offer. Not a "for sure" trick, but it worked for my particular snake!
 
Kokopelli said:
To be perfectly honest, I prefer giving rats rather than mice- they have more muscle tissue... I always see a more visible growth spurt once I switch my boas to weaned rats- much moreso than two adult mice.

Matter of opinion though
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Thats what I was thinking. I am going to buy weaned rats for Jasmine May 1st at the show. She is just growing so so fast. That I really feel like she needs bigger food. A breeder at the local show was telling me adout his buddies 9 foot king rats eating XXL rats! Thats what I want Jasmine to be like!
 
As far as switching over to rats. If it were me, I'd just try a rat. I've heard of snakes that will take them without any problems at all. If you did have problems perhaps you could get some old mice bedding and try scenting the rat with it?
 
Lovin2act said:
Something that worked for me on a picky rat snake was to take 1-2 thawed mice and rub it/them all over a thawed rat and then offer. Not a "for sure" trick, but it worked for my particular snake!
Click to expand...

I am sure that may work. Usually if I feed her at a 7 day interval she is absolutly insane when the mice are placed in her cage.
 
snakemom1961 said:
As far as switching over to rats. If it were me, I'd just try a rat. I've heard of snakes that will take them without any problems at all. If you did have problems perhaps you could get some old mice bedding and try scenting the rat with it?
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I have tried plain rats at a normal food intravel. Most of the king she seems slightly interested in the rat but ends up holding out for mice.
 
Lovin2act said:
Well thar ya go! Give er a try and maybe she wil go fer it :licklips:
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Well today is her feeding day! She always gets nippy on feeding day. Hopefully over spring break I will get her in a permenent cage! It is equal to a 75 gallon tank!
 
I feel you man...last night was feeding night for my critts and I was dodging all kinds of hungry snake heads wanting to meal my fingers!
 
I mean I easily switched my Taiwan and Black rat over to rats fine but my biggest corns will have nothing to do with mice! I try and accomadate what each snake wants to eat but when they need a push for growth and maxium quailty of life I do what I need to do to get them started.
 
Please note - Pessimist in the midst on this subject!

I have tried for 3 years to get one of my boas to take rats... and every trick in the book has failed. So I alternate him between multiple mice, chicks and quail. He is a lean snake with great muscle tone. I don't think it's the end of the world to have a snake that will never eat rats...
 
David, you might be surprised if you just try a rat. None of my mouse eaters have ever refused to take a rat (other than my live-only boa...jerk :headbang:).
 
You might want to try with a hairless rat, first, like a big pink or fuzzy. Any snake I give those to eats them like they are the best treat ever.
 
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