mice to rats

Bartman · 10-28-03, 08:50 PM

i was talking to someone on the net and i asked them if they knew how to get my bp from mice to rats because ive tried scenting and everything..she said that she just took the mouse and pryed(sp) open the snakes mouth and moved it down. I asked if this was stressful and she said not if you do it right..i dont know what that means but do you guys think this is a good idea? I dont know what else to do!

maiden_canada · 10-29-03, 02:19 AM

i have the same problem, just try giving him an appropriatly sized rat once every week, eventually he will take one (about 10people on the site told me that), or maybe you could feed him live young rats, that cant fight back, then the next time he sheds wait till he finishes shedding then switch over to f/t rats. what you're talking about is force-feeding, im not sure if it's a good idea but some people have had success with it, even though NOONE on this site has advised me to do so. also you dont ''pry'' the snakes mouth open.

daver676 · 10-29-03, 09:45 AM

I have had to ASSIST feed before, but never had to force the food down the snake's throat. And the assisting was a LAST resort. I don't think force feeding your snake will help it over to rats. If anything, I would think it would turn him off rats even more.

JeffT · 10-29-03, 09:52 AM

Yeah I dont think that would help your snake switch over at all. Maby try putting a mouse in there along with a rat, side by side, he might just eat it without thinking anything of it.

RepTylE · 10-29-03, 09:40 PM

Well you probably have a good idea of the time interval between feedings, right??? Well let him/her get a little hungrier before trying to get them to take a rat and not too big for the first try. Wait a couple extra days. If nothing happens try in a few more.
You may have to stand tough though. It's not like a healthy,well fed BP is going to starve in a few weeks.