Assist-feed to transition to rats?

[MyKuLoO]

My JCP has been feeding decently about ever 10 days or so. However, she will never take anything recently killed or F/T. And will only kill rats but never eat them. I am thinking of assist-feeding a rat pup to try to make the transition is this a good idea?

I waited an extra week so it has been 2 weeks exactly since last feeding. I plan to let her kill the rat and if her hunger doesn't make her eat the rat I want to try to assist-feed it.

I know the how-to of assist-feeding but have never done it myself. Any tips are appreciated.

[charlesc84]

I don't know, I would just wait it out. The important thing is that she eats. Have you tried f/t mice or tried scenting the rat with mice?

[MyKuLoO]

I don't know, I would just wait it out. The important thing is that she eats. Have you tried f/t mice or tried scenting the rat with mice?


I know she will take mice no problem, I usually feed 2 medium sized (on the smaller side) mice per feeding because she only takes live I don't want them to bite her.

I tried scenting rats with mice but she's smarter than that. It hasn't worked. She won't take anything that doesn't run around so f/t wouldn't work either.

[charlesc84]

I'd still wait, I don't see any reason to assist feed.

[MyKuLoO]

My purpose for wanting to assist-feed was to get her started on dead prey and transition to rats. Not because she isn't eating well.

[CosmicOwl]

My purpose for wanting to assist-feed was to get her started on dead prey and transition to rats. Not because she isn't eating well.

Seems like unwarranted stress. Try waiting her out and offer F/T rats. And if you have mice, try using them to scent the rats.

[MyKuLoO]

Waiting her out as in keep trying to feed only rats and no mice? Already tried scenting, braining, everything short of blending them together and reforming them into mouse shaped meat.

[ohh_kristina]

How long have you gone between feeds? I know you said you waited an extra week, making two weeks between feedings. That isn't a very long time when you consider most people feed on a 7 - 10 schedule for regular eaters. Sometimes it can take a nice break from feeding to start a transition like that. Unless she is ill or extremely young, I'd skip out on several scheduled feedings and then keep offering the f/t or freshly killed rats..and do it for a couple of weeks in a row. Have you tried scenting the rats? With mice, chicken broth, etc? After all of that, I'd consider other options, but I definitely wouldn't assist feed unless all other avenues have been explored.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Waiting her out as in keep trying to feed only rats and no mice? Already tried scenting, braining, everything short of blending them together and reforming them into mouse shaped meat.

Yeah just keep offering rats, and only rats, and offer only f/t, too, if you plan on switching from live as well. Eventually she will get hungry and take it. You can offer what she's eating now if she starts losing weight, but once she puts on weight I'd go back to only offering f/t rats again. Even a baby can go at least several months without any food, just be persistent.

[MyKuLoO]

How long have you gone between feeds? I know you said you waited an extra week, making two weeks between feedings. That isn't a very long time when you consider most people feed on a 7 - 10 schedule for regular eaters. Sometimes it can take a nice break from feeding to start a transition like that. Unless she is ill or extremely young, I'd skip out on several scheduled feedings and then keep offering the f/t or freshly killed rats..and do it for a couple of weeks in a row. Have you tried scenting the rats? With mice, chicken broth, etc? After all of that, I'd consider other options, but I definitely wouldn't assist feed unless all other avenues have been explored.


It's been 14 days, she usually eats every 7-10 (closer to 10) days. She is a little more than a year and very healthy looking and active.

I spoke to a local guy and he agrees to wait another week (making it 3) and trying to offer pre-killed rats/mice again.

I have tried pretty much every method out there...chicken broth, tuna juice, soaking in warm chicken broth, etc.


My primary goal is just to switch to at least fresh killed...I don't care about the savings of F/T as opposed to just buying live and killing it myself.

Switching to rats is preferable just so I can feed 1 instead of multiples, but again not critical for me since I haven't found definitive research that rats are nutritionally better than mice.

[MyKuLoO]

Yeah just keep offering rats, and only rats, and offer only f/t, too, if you plan on switching from live as well. Eventually she will get hungry and take it. You can offer what she's eating now if she starts losing weight, but once she puts on weight I'd go back to only offering f/t rats again. Even a baby can go at least several months without any food, just be persistent.


Yeah no weight loss or anything and I would definitely give her live prey (her preference) if she starts to lose any weight.

[ohh_kristina]

It's been 14 days, she usually eats every 7-10 (closer to 10) days. She is a little more than a year and very healthy looking and active.

I spoke to a local guy and he agrees to wait another week (making it 3) and trying to offer pre-killed rats/mice again.

I have tried pretty much every method out there...chicken broth, tuna juice, soaking in warm chicken broth, etc.


My primary goal is just to switch to at least fresh killed...I don't care about the savings of F/T as opposed to just buying live and killing it myself.

Switching to rats is preferable just so I can feed 1 instead of multiples, but again not critical for me since I haven't found definitive research that rats are nutritionally better than mice.



That's super frustrating for sure. Sounds like it's just one of those situations where you have to wait it out and keep hoping for the best. Some snakes are picky. This is obviously one of them! I hope it works out!

[Tsubaki]

Switching both from live to f/t and to rats at the same time is hard, i would have switched to f/t first. A wiggly heated up dead mouse, resembles a live mouse more than a live rat does if its a snake that needs an appropriate smell while eating. Also, after 14 days the snake isnt all that hungry. Forced or ' assisted' feeding is incredibly stressing for the animal, not a good way to entice a switch, it should only be used as a last resort since it can be harmful as well.

I doubt you have tried this method, i have done this a few times with picky eaters. It requires patience, and is a bit gory.. but for me it has worked every time even with stubborn specimens. It would be easier if you get the animal over on f/t or prekill first, but you can always attempt it directly. Cut a large piece of skin of a dead mouse, attach it onto the head of a dead rat.. heat it up real good, so its nice and warm.. Use long feeding thongs and mimic a live mouse, if the animal grabs it keep wiggling for a strong response. You can keep making the pieces of skin smaller and smaller, eventually switching to just scenting. - p.s try not to make the piece of mouse skin wet, keep it nice and stinky. And do not cover the nose of the rat with the skin. Good luck!

[MyKuLoO]

Switching both from live to f/t and to rats at the same time is hard, i would have switched to f/t first. A wiggly heated up dead mouse, resembles a live mouse more than a live rat does if its a snake that needs an appropriate smell while eating. Also, after 14 days the snake isnt all that hungry. Forced or ' assisted' feeding is incredibly stressing for the animal, not a good way to entice a switch, it should only be used as a last resort since it can be harmful as well.

I doubt you have tried this method, i have done this a few times with picky eaters. It requires patience, and is a bit gory.. but for me it has worked every time even with stubborn specimens. It would be easier if you get the animal over on f/t or prekill first, but you can always attempt it directly. Cut a large piece of skin of a dead mouse, attach it onto the head of a dead rat.. heat it up real good, so its nice and warm.. Use long feeding thongs and mimic a live mouse, if the animal grabs it keep wiggling for a strong response. You can keep making the pieces of skin smaller and smaller, eventually switching to just scenting. - p.s try not to make the piece of mouse skin wet, keep it nice and stinky. And do not cover the nose of the rat with the skin. Good luck!



Yeah I think i'm going to try just switching to f/t or prekilled MICE first and try the rat switch later on.

I have not tried the skin trick although I have sprayed mouse blood over a rat before (accidentally cut the carotid while trying to kill it with tongs....okay BBQ tongs so it was kind of sharp). I will give it a try. I have a local pet store that is helping me with this and maybe they can do this for me haha.

[Aaron_S]

You can't assist feed a very healthy and active snake. It will completely fight you every inch of the way and then likely spit the food out.

Stick to other ways.