Switching from mice to rats

[r.a.ott]

I'm considering the risks involved in trying to convert a mouser to rats with a new approach. I've tried using most of the common remedies found online to no avail. My next attempt will be to temporarily house a rat eating male jungle carpet python with a mouse eating female jungle carpet python and offer the rat to the mouser first. When she turns it down I will offer it to the rat eater. When he takes it I'm hoping that two things happen. First she may realize that rats are edible and secondly the competition may encourage her to eat something she would normally be inclined to refuse. The danger inherent to this attempt is the possibility of a snake getting bitten or, if it works as hoped, disengaging one of the snakes from the rat. Any experience or thoughts on this approach? Thanks, Rob

[SSSSnakes]

Bad idea feeding two snake together. This is a good way to get one of the snakes hurt.

[Scubadiver59]

Bad idea feeding two snake together. This is a good way to get one of the snakes hurt.

^^^^^^^ This!^^^^^^^

Only reason I'd ever keep two snakes together is if I'm breeding; otherwise, they're always separately housed. I'd never put two together during feeding time; but if I did have two together, I'd remove one the day before feeding, let it settle overnight, feed it, and put it back a day later. Slightly stressful for the one, but probably far less stressful than two fighting over food.

[dannybgoode]

I don't think a snake will learn off another snake in this manner.

Whilst I am becoming much more relaxed about the idea of choosing co-habbing certain snakes (although I don't do so myself currently - it certainly can be done very successfully) for your situation I don't think it's a good idea for the reasons others have mentioned.

[trailblazer295]

My carpet has never been a good rat eater. Would pound mice or quail no problem but rats were investigated and licked but refused a lot. Her having a lot of IJ blood meaning her adult size won't be huge I tried asfs on recommendation from her breeder. She will eat those easily. I have a source that has asf up to 120g+ thudders so for me it's a viable option long term.

If you have such a food option you could try that. I spent over 6 months trying to get her to take rats but gave up. She skipped a lot of meals because of that. She has now eaten 5 asf in a row even being in shed.