Switching and IJ carpet to rats

[kernel]

I have a question for all you carpet python keepers. I have been trying to switch my 4 foot IJ carpet python over to rats with no success. She's currently eating 3-4 jumbo mice and that's getting to costly. I have tried rubbing a mouse on rat and she grabbed it, but she spit it back out. I have tried that several times and the same thing happens. I have tried starving her for up to 2 months, but that didn't work either. Do you guys have any idea how I can get her to switch?

[exwizard]

Im in the same boat youre in. Mick is still a mouse eater. Im a stubborn guy though and in the end he will be on rats...

[hellosugaree]

How much rubbing did you do? Since she started to take it, maybe you're on the right track. Try washing the rat thoroughly and then rubbing some more with a bit of stanky cut-open mouse? Are you feeding live, frozen, or freshly killed? Maybe try a fresh killed rat if you feeding frozen. Good luck!

[Lankyrob]

Wait longer, 2 months is nothing, my guy goes 3 weeks without food intentionally - 2 months to him would be like skipping lunch :)

[kernel]

Im in the same boat youre in. Mick is still a mouse eater. Im a stubborn guy though and in the end he will be on rats...

I'm a stubborn guy as well, but she's proving to be more stubborn.

How much rubbing did you do? Since she started to take it, maybe you're on the right track. Try washing the rat thoroughly and then rubbing some more with a bit of stanky cut-open mouse? Are you feeding live, frozen, or freshly killed? Maybe try a fresh killed rat if you feeding frozen. Good luck!

Quite a bit. I even buried the rat in mice for a couple hours. I'll have to try that, that just might do it. I feed f/t. If the first thing doesn't work, I'll try a f/k. Do you think a live would do the trick, or would that start a new problem? All, my colubrid and ball python experience, seems to be useless on carpet pythons.

[kernel]

Wait longer, 2 months is nothing, my guy goes 3 weeks without food intentionally - 2 months to him would be like skipping lunch :)

She NEVER skips a meal, she's a PIG, she just won't take the rats. Do you think a live would do the trick or would that create a new problem?

[Caylan]

We had an Irian Jaya male that we couldn't get onto rats at all. We ever went as far as sewing the rats fact to the soft furs back end and he still spit them up by the time the rat started going down his throat... we gave him soft furs, as they are quite a bit larger then mice, but can also be more expensive if you aren't breeding your own. A ready to go prego mama soft fur was a great meal for him though, couldn't imagine having to do that with the coastal though... Best of luck, but just so you and every are aware... it might not happen :D

[nicks75]

If she's striking out then your half way there, my jungle did the same thing, I used water that I thawed mice in as a scent, I'd put it in a spray bottle and spray the rat as well as the enclosure before feeding, she would strike out then spit it out, I would then wait a few minutes an try again and she eventually ate it. Another thing you should try is placing the rat in a hide with the snake over night, that how I get my IJ to eat rats, she almost never strikes but will eat it if I keep I in her hide over night.

[kernel]

We had an Irian Jaya male that we couldn't get onto rats at all. We ever went as far as sewing the rats fact to the soft furs back end and he still spit them up by the time the rat started going down his throat... we gave him soft furs, as they are quite a bit larger then mice, but can also be more expensive if you aren't breeding your own. A ready to go prego mama soft fur was a great meal for him though, couldn't imagine having to do that with the coastal though... Best of luck, but just so you and every are aware... it might not happen :D

I don't have any access to soft furs. I hope she switches, I don't even want to think about how many mice she could be eating as an adult.

If she's striking out then your half way there, my jungle did the same thing, I used water that I thawed mice in as a scent, I'd put it in a spray bottle and spray the rat as well as the enclosure before feeding, she would strike out then spit it out, I would then wait a few minutes an try again and she eventually ate it. Another thing you should try is placing the rat in a hide with the snake over night, that how I get my IJ to eat rats, she almost never strikes but will eat it if I keep I in her hide over night.

I can try using the mouse water as a scent, but putting the rat in the hide won't work, she doesn't use a hide, she stay on her perch.

[shaunyboy]

I have a question for all you carpet python keepers. I have been trying to switch my 4 foot IJ carpet python over to rats with no success. She's currently eating 3-4 jumbo mice and that's getting to costly. I have tried rubbing a mouse on rat and she grabbed it, but she spit it back out. I have tried that several times and the same thing happens. I have tried starving her for up to 2 months, but that didn't work either. Do you guys have any idea how I can get her to switch?


the main thing is NOT to give in and offer mice

1.
heat the rat and a mouse with a hairdryer...

then BURST the mouse open and smear the blood and guts ALL over the rat

puncture the rats head 2 or 3 times with the point of a pair of scissors

then give the rats head another quick heat with a hairdryer

then offer it to your snake

2.
another method is.....

feed the rats head into your snakes mouth,just as it's finishing swallowing a mouse

sometimes they will just keep going and take the rat

i preffer method 1

it does require some patience though mate

i wish you all the best in getting her crossed over

please let us know how it goes

cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

She NEVER skips a meal, she's a PIG, she just won't take the rats. Do you think a live would do the trick or would that create a new problem?

personally i would NOT go down that road just yet

i have known people to sew mouse heads onto rats bodies to get them crossed over

i would use every other available method before considering a live rat

for the record.....

i have NO issues with live feeding mate

cheers shaun

[kernel]

the main thing is NOT to give in and offer mice

1.
heat the rat and a mouse with a hairdryer...

then BURST the mouse open and smear the blood and guts ALL over the rat

puncture the rats head 2 or 3 times with the point of a pair of scissors

then give the rats head another quick heat with a hairdryer

then offer it to your snake

2.
another method is.....

feed the rats head into your snakes mouth,just as it's finishing swallowing a mouse

sometimes they will just keep going and take the rat

i preffer method 1

it does require some patience though mate

i wish you all the best in getting her crossed over

please let us know how it goes

cheers shaun

I'll have to try that tomorrow. Thanks Shaun (that's your name right?), I'll let you all know how it goes.

personally i would NOT go down that road just yet

i have known people to sew mouse heads onto rats bodies to get them crossed over

i would use every other available method before considering a live rat

for the record.....

i have NO issues with live feeding mate

cheers shaun

I'm glad to hear you say that. I'm not against feeding live, but I certainly don't like it. I only consider it if it's going to get a animal eating or switched over. Thanks for the advice!

[UwabamiReptiles]

Everyone about covered it, you just have to be patient. It'll happen in time. It took me close to a year to switch one of my guys from live mice to f/t rats. Its a frustrating task but you have to stick in there until you find something that works. Since your girl has a good feeding response, I bet once you get her to take one that'll be the end of it. Good luck.

[kernel]

I hope doesn't take a year to switch her over. Going to try what Shaun suggested tonight, I'll let everyone know how that went.

[stuart]

quick question, is a 3ft wide 3ft long 2ft high tank big enough for an adult female irian jaya carpet? Because i have a corner tank and i really want to get a carpet but i want to make sure that if i do get one i will have a big enough tank for when it reaches its full length. please help.

[hellosugaree]

quick question, is a 3ft wide 3ft long 2ft high tank big enough for an adult female irian jaya carpet? Because i have a corner tank and i really want to get a carpet but i want to make sure that if i do get one i will have a big enough tank for when it reaches its full length. please help.

Plenty of room for an IJ

[shaunyboy]

I'll have to try that tomorrow. Thanks Shaun (that's your name right?), I'll let you all know how it goes.



I'm glad to hear you say that. I'm not against feeding live, but I certainly don't like it. I only consider it if it's going to get a animal eating or switched over. Thanks for the advice!

yes mate it's shaun:)

never ceases to amaze me,how some people who keep " PREDATORS " are against live feeding :wacky:

cheers shaun

[kernel]

Hey guys, sorry for not updating. I actually haven't tried switching her, cause I have been so busy. My plan is to try tomorrow, hopefully nothing keeps me from doing so. I'll try to keep y'all better updated.

[BlindOne]

let us know how it goes. I've got one these too, she has only struck at a rat pup once....I don't really want to try Shaun's grisly method but if I have to...

[kernel]

I don't want to either, I have a couple other things I'm going to try first, but I will try it as a last resort.

[MoreliAddict]

A moderator here needed to wait 5 months to switch a ball python over to f/t rats from live mice. Maybe you didn't "starve" him long enough...

[kernel]

OK everyone, I had a mouse burst open last night, so I took the opportunity and covered the rat in guts and blood and she constricted it for a while, but then she spit it out and wouldn't eat :(

@ Moreliaddict, maybe so.

[shaunyboy]

l.I don't really want to try Shaun's grisly method but if I have to...

for the record.....

i only use gruesome methods as a very last resort

i'm NOT some crazy dr frankenstein of the rat world folks :laugh:

just don't let your nieghbours see you,sitting sewing mouse heads,onto rats bodies.....

or you will become the crazy dude your whole community talks about ;):laugh:

the upside i suppose is NO one will burgle your house :laugh:

cheers shaun:)

[emmabee]

for the record.....

i only use gruesome methods as a very last resort

i'm NOT some crazy dr frankenstein of the rat world folks :laugh:

just don't let your nieghbours see you,sitting sewing mouse heads,onto rats bodies.....

or you will become the crazy dude your whole community talks about ;):laugh:

the upside i suppose is NO one will burgle your house :laugh:

cheers shaun:)

umm yeah you are shaun! your frankenmice work though

its bloody messy(quite litrally) but its effective. i would never have thought of it before reading another thread of yours but they like it!

im using this on a baby burm at the moment! (time to go skin some mice!):crazy:

[shaunyboy]

umm yeah you are shaun! your frankenmice work though

its bloody messy(quite litrally) but its effective. i would never have thought of it before reading another thread of yours but they like it!

im using this on a baby burm at the moment! (time to go skin some mice!):crazy:

^^^^^
glad to hear it worked for you pal :)

no matter how many times you sew a mouse head,onto a rats body.....

it always feels wierd and worth a wee chuckle to ones self :laugh:

cheers shaun

[buffcoat]

And might I ask just what you use to sew this head on with? Not standard thread right? Im just really curious

[shaunyboy]

And might I ask just what you use to sew this head on with? Not standard thread right? Im just really curious

i use standard," un dyed ",white cotton thread mate

i suppose if you wanted to take it to another level,then disolving suture like they use for stitching wounds at the vets,would be ok

that said,i've had NO problems using a small length of cotton thread

cheers shaun

[exwizard]

for the record.....

i only use gruesome methods as a very last resort

i'm NOT some crazy dr frankenstein of the rat world folks :laugh:

just don't let your nieghbours see you,sitting sewing mouse heads,onto rats bodies.....

or you will become the crazy dude your whole community talks about ;):laugh:

the upside i suppose is NO one will burgle your house :laugh:

cheers shaun:)

umm yeah you are shaun! your frankenmice work though

its bloody messy(quite litrally) but its effective. i would never have thought of it before reading another thread of yours but they like it!

im using this on a baby burm at the moment! (time to go skin some mice!):crazy:Nothing gruesome about this. If it works, do it. :)

[kernel]

Ok, sorry I didn't update y'all. I have tried it 2 time and both time she struck and constricted, but then wouldn't eat it. I think I might just a mouse onto a rat (with cotton thread) and hope after swallowing the mouse, she'll continue to swallow the rat.

[TinkerbellsMom]

have you ever tried dipping it in warm chicken broth? lol if that doesn't work than ur snake is REALLY stubborn. once my hatchling BP smelled the chicken broth she struck it IMMEDIATELY and she was very stressed from a long delivery and a new home!

[Lankyrob]

have you ever tried dipping it in warm chicken broth? lol if that doesn't work than ur snake is REALLY stubborn. once my hatchling BP smelled the chicken broth she struck it IMMEDIATELY and she was very stressed from a long delivery and a new home!


Just make sure there is no salt in the broth :)

[shaunyboy]

you can use a dead chick to the same effect mate

simply burst open the chick and smear the rat with blood and guts

cheers shaun

[emmabee]

or the stomach contents of day olds! the PITA DJJ sib i have likes that!

[shaunyboy]

or the stomach contents of day olds! the PITA DJJ sib i have likes that!

^^^^^
i've used a needle and syringe to extract the chicks yolk sac,then spray it over the rat

it just looks like thick egg yolk (yellow in colour)

is that the same thing ?

cheers shaun

[emmabee]

^^^^^
i've used a needle and syringe to extract the chicks yolk sac,then spray it over the rat

it just looks like thick egg yolk (yellow in colour)

is that the same thing ?

cheers shaun

yeah same thing! i first discovered she was mad for it when she ripped a chick open and went into a crazy feeding mode for the first time since she came to me!

shes still a nightmare feeder but i know what i can do now to kick start her if i need to.

will have to use a needle next time!not thought of that and so much less messy!

[shaunyboy]

yeah same thing! i first discovered she was mad for it when she ripped a chick open and went into a crazy feeding mode for the first time since she came to me!

shes still a nightmare feeder but i know what i can do now to kick start her if i need to.

will have to use a needle next time!not thought of that and so much less messy!

i use a 10ml syringe,with a detachable green needle

the plastic part of the needle,that fits over the syringe are colour coded,the green ones are the longest and widest bore,great for sucking up chicks yolk sacks pal :laugh:

cheers shaun

[MoreliAddict]

I always enjoy reading your feeding methods, Shaun! :D

[kernel]

Well, she still hasn't switched. I have't given in a single time and neither has she. I have smeared mouse guts all over the rat and everything. Every time she strikes and constricts, but then she realizes it's not a mouse and refuses to eat it. I wonder if she'll eat chicks?

[shaunyboy]

I always enjoy reading your feeding methods, Shaun! :D

for some reason my children preffer their mothers cooking :laugh::laugh:

i have no idea why :D

my snakes love me feeding them

cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

Well, she still hasn't switched. I have't given in a single time and neither has she. I have smeared mouse guts all over the rat and everything. Every time she strikes and constricts, but then she realizes it's not a mouse and refuses to eat it. I wonder if she'll eat chicks?

have you tried braining the prey ?

also give it a really good heat,especially the head

she's striking and constricting,so imo your just about there mate

hang in there

cheers shaun

[exwizard]

Well, she still hasn't switched. I have't given in a single time and neither has she. I have smeared mouse guts all over the rat and everything. Every time she strikes and constricts, but then she realizes it's not a mouse and refuses to eat it. I wonder if she'll eat chicks?Im going to try something next time when feeding Mick, my male mouse eater IJ. I will feed him a smaller mouse, then right on the tail of that, I will feed him a pup rat and see if that works. I can so relate to your problems in trying to get her to switch as I also have this same problem and nothings worked yet. We'll see if this next approach works or not.

[shaunyboy]

Im going to try something next time when feeding Mick, my male mouse eater IJ. I will feed him a smaller mouse, then right on the tail of that, I will feed him a pup rat and see if that works. I can so relate to your problems in trying to get her to switch as I also have this same problem and nothings worked yet. We'll see if this next approach works or not.

^^^^^
i have seen this method work mate

just tuck the rats head in the snakes mouth,as the mouse tail starts to go down,most carpets keep on munching:)

cheers shaun

[kernel]

have you tried braining the prey ?

also give it a really good heat,especially the head

she's striking and constricting,so imo your just about there mate

hang in there

cheers shaun

Yes, I have tried that.

I always heat it up really good, that's the only way she'll strike and constrict.

Im going to try something next time when feeding Mick, my male mouse eater IJ. I will feed him a smaller mouse, then right on the tail of that, I will feed him a pup rat and see if that works. I can so relate to your problems in trying to get her to switch as I also have this same problem and nothings worked yet. We'll see if this next approach works or not.

^^^^^
i have seen this method work mate

just tuck the rats head in the snakes mouth,as the mouse tail starts to go down,most carpets keep on munching:)

cheers shaun

I'll definitely try that next week. What about chicks?

[UwabamiReptiles]

You can try chicks but I tried giving one of my jungles chicks and now its pretty much the only thing she'll eat. Chicks are like candy to carpets. She totally ignores rats now. So now I'm in the long process of getting her back to rats. With that said, I've given chicks to four of my other carpets and they still eat rats for me. I personally think chicks are a good occasional "treat" to vary their diet a little bit from time to time.

[kernel]

So chicks aren't nutritionally complete for carpets?

[UwabamiReptiles]

The chicks have a high fat content. Most of the time they are the day old chicks that are sold as feeders. The older the bird, the more nutritionally complete it will be. So as far as chickens go, feeding a day old chick is like feeding a pinkie(if that analogy makes sense). Feeding a carpet a chick won't hurt it in any way, shape, or fashion. I just wanted to warn you that one out of five carpets I have is hooked on chicks and basically nothing else. Not saying that will happen with your carpet, but I just wanted to throw that out there.

If I were you, I would stay on the course that your on and hang in there until you get your carpet to take rats consistently. In the long run, rats are what you're going to want to be to an adult carpet anyways. And rats are pretty easy to get ahold of. My ij jag was a mouser for the first year and a half I had him. I kept at it by offering rats in different ways and finally found a way that would work for him. It took awhile and it was frustrating but now its worth it because now he's taking rats.

[kernel]

That makes complete sense. I'll keep trying to switch her to rats. She has got to give in eventually, I hope. Thanks for the help!

[shaunyboy]

The chicks have a high fat content. Most of the time they are the day old chicks that are sold as feeders. The older the bird, the more nutritionally complete it will be. So as far as chickens go, feeding a day old chick is like feeding a pinkie(if that analogy makes sense). Feeding a carpet a chick won't hurt it in any way, shape, or fashion. I just wanted to warn you that one out of five carpets I have is hooked on chicks and basically nothing else. Not saying that will happen with your carpet, but I just wanted to throw that out there.

If I were you, I would stay on the course that your on and hang in there until you get your carpet to take rats consistently. In the long run, rats are what you're going to want to be to an adult carpet anyways. And rats are pretty easy to get ahold of. My ij jag was a mouser for the first year and a half I had him. I kept at it by offering rats in different ways and finally found a way that would work for him. It took awhile and it was frustrating but now its worth it because now he's taking rats.

i also would steer clear of chicks,i know a few carpet keepers,who's snakes will ONLY take chicks

makes for smelly poop and imo not great nutrition wise

cheers shaun

[kernel]

Ok, thanks for telling me, I'll stay away from the chicks.

Never knew it would make smelly poop....

Thanks Shaun.

[MitchBogo]

I succesully switched all my carpets and balls to f/t rats by thawing out couple mice in a ziploc bag with a rat so one everythings thawed out the rats covered in mice scent! I hope this works for you cause i no how irratating it is! This method worls 99% of the time for me!

[exwizard]

I've tried mouse scenting and it never worked because as soon as he sank his teeth in he would spit it out like a projectile.

[kernel]

^^^Exactly what mine does

[MitchBogo]

Wow that is one stubborn snake!!

[shaunyboy]

^^^Exactly what mine does

^^^^^
thats where you have to show patience and percivere mate

my female diamond was like that,it took me the best part of 6 months,to get her taking rats

at first she spat it out,like it had given her an electric shock.....

so i take it mice are much more tasty that rats :D

cheers shaun