would this make more sense?

Bartman · 10-21-04, 07:32 PM

Alright ive been trying to get my male ball python onto rats for quite the while. He isnt the greatest at taking them and has taken one or two by himself. Whenever he ate one he wouldnt eat for the next 3 weeks minimum or he just wouldnt eat until I had to crack and just give him a jumbo mouse.

So would it make more sense to give him one jumbo mouse a week rather than a small rat once in 3 weeks. I figure since hes not a female he wont need the weight when breeding, so he wouldnt need to be stuffed with rats.

CDN-Cresties · 10-21-04, 07:47 PM

Have you tried scenting and all other methods? To switch my BP to rats a bought a small rat and a hopper and i rubbed the hopper all over the rat and placed them both in the enclosure. I placed the hopper on top of the rat and when I checked back they were both gone.

Bartman · 10-21-04, 08:02 PM

Ive honestly tried EVERYTHING..and hes taken it once or twice but it took so much work im not sure if its worth it, if he even takes again.

To get him started, after already trying everything, I placed in a small live rat to get him to understand that scent meant food. He ate it, then ate 2 f/t's right after (took on week after, didnt eat for 3 weeks and then took another) and the last 6 times i tried f/t rats it was a no go. Tonight I just had to get something into him so I gave him a mouse (jumbo) and he took it right away.

Bartman · 10-21-04, 08:37 PM

What about just using hamsters...is this a bad food item for them?

If not, how often would I feed them..same thing..like once a week?

marisa · 10-21-04, 08:41 PM

You said he has eaten one or two rats, I am sorry but you are WELL ahead of most people with this problem.

The problem you are having is that YOU are giving in to his wants instead of giving him NOTHING but rats. Nothing.

If you want a mouse eater, then give him his mice. If you want a rat eater don't give him one more meal that is not rats. He will take them alive, stunned, or FT eventually.

Marisa

Corey Woods · 10-21-04, 09:19 PM

Feed him what he wants and then try and get him onto what you want once he's eating like a champ.

Corey

Bartman · 10-21-04, 09:20 PM

I just figured males dont need to be nearly as heafty as females to breed. So 4 jumbo mice a month compared to one small rat a month is much better imo.

Bartman · 10-21-04, 09:22 PM

Does anyone have a picture of a full grown male in comparison to either someone or an object?

marisa · 10-21-04, 09:38 PM

I don't understand why four mice per month makes more sense.

For one thing, he WILL eventually eat more than ONE rat per month. He will. So I don't see why you would want to go back to mice, unless he is a very young ball, or underweight and you just want him eating. Secondly, buying four adult mice in most areas is more expensive than an adult rat.

And no, males don't need to be as hefty. For breeding. But eventually your ball will be around 4 feet and one adult mouse would be bare minimum if not too little. Although plenty, tons and tons, have been raised and breed on mice alone. It's your call. I would feed nothing but rats though. That's for myself though.

Marisa