Bp stuck on mice?

[PO_0784]

My bp wont take anything else other than live mice....something he can eat them dead but thats it.. he is getting real big! Since the beginning of the winter, he took an inch longer even if he isn`t eating at all... (3ft 2"). I want your advice on rats: I tried thems before but he didn`t seem interested at all. For 2 months, he was not eating because I offered him rat and I really tried every trick! After my exp. with them, I offered him a standart mouse and he took it right away!

my question: Should I try to switch him to rat before he get bigger?

P.s: I have all the material to breed the mice at home (and I started a new colony :P)

THx for all:rolleyes:

[Pixie]

I have the same exact problem with my BP, female of approx. 40". She wont take anything but mice. I tried switching her over to rats and she didn't want anything to do with them. I also tried pretty much every trick I looked up to no avail. As soon as I offered her a mouse again, it didn't take 10 seconds and she was on it. The last time I tried, I started with a mouse (she usually eats 3) and followed with a young rat. It totally cut off the misses apetite, she didn't want the rat or even other mice!

I've asked a few people and it seems to be alright to feed only mice. Rats are more nutritious apparently and convenient since you don't need a lot of food items but mice will do if that's all your bp will take. You just need more of them. I also breed my own mice so I don't mind having to feed her more of them per meal.

[Lisa]

I've found a great FAQ on switching mice to rats here http://www.proexotics.com/FAQ_answers_switch_from_mice_to_rats.html

[Zhakrin]

Try rubbing the rat with the soiled mice bedding or a mouse chemo-sent like "mousemaker".

I am not sure these will work as I raise my bps to take rat pups ASAP.

From what I have read BPs prey imprint and the longer you feed a certain prey the more resistant they will be to change.

Good luck

[dlucka]

Hi, My Ball python 3foot and some inch get from mice to HAMSTER,
(no more mice at store..) and she never showed like:" This is not what i eat!!!". I may not have any credit for it, she eat like a pig.
Don't flash your eyes when it's food time, you'll miss all the action.
Maybe hamster will work for you too???

[Zhakrin]

I would not recommend hamsters. Hamsters are such a perfered prey for BP that it is very hard to switch them back to rats.

Hamsters are also harder to breed, not as readily available and alot more expensive.

Hamster should be reserved for the BP that just wont take anything else.

[PO_0784]

well he stopped eating again..no more "switching to rat" lol
thx for the help!

also..be carefull with hamster!!! their long teeths can cut your snake when he is eating it!!

[raebug2000]

well i found sneaking in a gerbil inbetween rats for a while helped my 2 year old girl switch to rats... :)