Trouble Switching to Rats - Page 2

red ink · 12-01-10, 04:23 PM

No 4 x 2 x 2 cages powered by electricity out there in nature either

Lankyrob · 12-01-10, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swan

Try killing the rat and put it in front of your snake. This is how I got mine to switch. NOT f/t. Live rat crack em on the table and put them both in there feeding box. Sorry guys I know most of you use f/t, but my snakes all of em eat live. There's no f/t rats in nature. A lot of people say they will get hurt. None of my snakes have ever had a problem with bite marks or scars.

Innature they wouldnt get fed on a regular basis either, and also any prey has a chance for fight or flight, in a viv there only chance is fight or die. Wild snakes live a lot shorter lives for a number of reasons, preyfighting back is one of these.

Jay · 12-01-10, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swan

Try killing the rat and put it in front of your snake. This is how I got mine to switch. NOT f/t. Live rat crack em on the table and put them both in there feeding box. Sorry guys I know most of you use f/t, but my snakes all of em eat live. There's no f/t rats in nature. A lot of people say they will get hurt. None of my snakes have ever had a problem with bite marks or scars.

i dont understand.\ this is my opinion but you need to undrstand your reptiles are not living in the wild anymore>? so your argument makes no sense ?please explain ? there are no tanks or heatmats, lightbulbs, water bowls ect. in nature

Damion930 · 12-02-10, 12:20 AM

What if u skin a mouse and made a little mouse vest for a rat to wear lol glad i haven had any problems feeding my retic Enki i think he would eat just about anything i put in front of him

Reptile_Reptile · 12-02-10, 05:45 PM

wtf???? for real ^^^^ seriously

Swan · 12-02-10, 06:00 PM

I understand that my snakes don't live in the wild, but they still carry the born instinct to kill there own prey. In the wild if they wanted to bask they would find a heat soure via rock warm sand. If they wanted to cool down they would hide or soak in water. I have had no luck with f/t. I have tried because it would be much cheaper and easier. My snakes, if it's not moving on it's own they won't even look at it. I was mearly suggesting that maybe some snakes with stronger wild instincts may prefer live food. Unless one of you has a magic trick to get my snakes to switch I'm stuck with live feeding.

shaunyboy · 12-03-10, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerWortman

She is currently eating live mice and I tried a live rat about the size of my thumb. I'd like to just switch without having to smear blood and guts and all but I don't see that happening. What's the best way to get mice blood and all?

its frozen i use so i defrost burst mouse open and smear the blood and guts over the rat

if your using live then kill mouse burst open and smear with blood and guts

not nice but very effective

cheers shaun

shaunyboy · 12-03-10, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swan

Try killing the rat and put it in front of your snake. This is how I got mine to switch. NOT f/t. Live rat crack em on the table and put them both in there feeding box. Sorry guys I know most of you use f/t, but my snakes all of em eat live. There's no f/t rats in nature. A lot of people say they will get hurt. None of my snakes have ever had a problem with bite marks or scars.

your no frozen rats in nature is a very flawed arguement mate

there are no ceramics or heat mats either

we are not keeping our snakes in wild conditions so imo its wrong to use that logic

if you preffer live feeds then i have no problem with that

i dont know what you keep but i know if i was feeding a small to large rat to mine i'd be very wary of a rat biting the snake

there are plenty recorded cases of rats causing major damage to snakes in captivity

imo its much safer using frozen thawed

cheers shauns

Nafun · 12-03-10, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

your no frozen rats in nature is a very flawed arguement mate

there are no ceramics or heat mats either

we are not keeping our snakes in wild conditions so imo its wrong to use that logic

if you preffer live feeds then i have no problem with that

i dont know what you keep but i know if i was feeding a small to large rat to mine i'd be very wary of a rat biting the snake

there are plenty recorded cases of rats causing major damage to snakes in captivity

imo its much safer using frozen thawed

cheers shauns

I've got snakes that will only take live, and while they've had some close calls. Some rats get very very aggressive when confronted with a predator. I've had to stick my hand in and take one for the team more than once to protect a snake.

I feed freshly killed prey almost exclusively because I breed my own mice, gerbils, rats, and rabbits. It's cheaper than buying frozen, and it has one major advantage I've found. When I was feeding frozen/thawed, I would check the cages on sundays, and pull a rodent to thaw for anyone not in shed. Monday was feeding day, and with a dozen or so snakes, I ended up throwing way about 2 rodents per week from refused feeds. By killing the rodents as I need them, if a snake refuses its meal, that rodent can go to the next in line. I can save my most voracious feeders for last so that I almost never throw a rodent away. I think a lot of people shy away from pre killing because it's gruesome, or makes them feel more guilty than letting the snake do the killing or by buying prekilled, but anything that reduces the number of animals that have to die to fuel your hobby reduces the amount of blood on your hands, metaphorically speaking.

All things being equal on the whole "natural" thing, animals are generally simple creatures. They want three things, safety from predators, a source of food (the easier to obtain the better!), and someone to, er, love.

Yes, UTHs, ceramic heaters, frozen/thawed rats, and plastic hides are unnatural. However, dying from cold snaps, starving to death, and getting eaten by anything bigger than it *is* natural. In my experience, animals don't really care about whether things are natural, only if they fit their needs. As evidenced by the rabbits I chase out of my garden, the toads I chase out of my garage, etc.

shaunyboy · 12-03-10, 12:14 PM

personally i have NO PROBLEM with people feeding live

i also understand some snakes will not take frozen thawed

like my friends black headed python.it will not eat deformed or weak hatchlings if you kill them first

it will only take them alive

if i come across like i was moaning,being bitchy,arguementative or against live feeding that was not my intention

i did however get out the wrong side of the bed this morning (he says hoping you understand this old english saying)

i have used live feeds in the past to get non eating hatchlings up and running

im glad all mine take frozen thawed as im not really into keeping fluffy animals alive.i preffer to buy them dead,throw them in the freezer and be done with it.

ive even sewed chicks heads onto rats body's.

that took a bit of explaining when my wife looked into our kitchen

cheers shaun

Swan · 12-03-10, 01:07 PM

Dang shuan that's hard core brother! I was simply stating that we create our tanks to mimic there natural enviroment. Simply building a box would not be enough. The ceramics and light and uth are all to simulate there natural Eco system. All artificials are to stimulate your snake like there natural enviroment would. If I'm wrong please correct me.

percey39 · 12-05-10, 08:23 AM

I have found in past experiences that the easiest way to get most carpets to switch is by scenting with quail. Another way that works is to get hold of just some chick, quail or even budgie feathers and stick these in the food items mouth. Never had one refuse a bird scented/feather in mouth prey item.

shaunyboy · 12-05-10, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reptile_Reptile

wtf???? for real ^^^^ seriously

as gross as it sounds.....

ive sewn chick heads onto rats body's to get adults switched over to rats for a friend

the things we do for our snakes

cheers shaun

shaunyboy · 12-05-10, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swan

Dang shuan that's hard core brother! I was simply stating that we create our tanks to mimic there natural enviroment. Simply building a box would not be enough. The ceramics and light and uth are all to simulate there natural Eco system. All artificials are to stimulate your snake like there natural enviroment would. If I'm wrong please correct me.

my apologys if ive come across a bit abrupt in any of my posts to you mate

that was never my intention and i should not have jumped on your post like that

im really sorry if i caused any offence mate

all the best shaun

Swan · 12-05-10, 11:26 AM

Oh no offense shuan. I'm a construction worker, It takes a lot for me to get offended. No problems. I like hearing everyones views and experience. By all means if I'm wrong about something please correct me. I was just trying to imagine the wifey walking in on sewing a chicken head to a rat! Oh that would be priceless. Haha!