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Re: Switching from Mice to Rats


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Carpet and Diamond Python Forum ]

Posted by JohnB on April 19, 2003 at 02:25:07:

In Reply to: Switching from Mice to Rats posted by doubledouble on April 18, 2003 at 23:42:37:

I've had to deal with this in the past, and I think I can help you out.

What worked for me was a combination of scenting and hunger. Scenting was the easy part; just rub a dead mouse all over the rat and it will pick up the smell. Mice positively stink, and that may be part of the reason your jungle is refusing to feed on rats. They simply don't smell like food.

Unfortunately, scenting didn't work right away for me. I had to take more drastic steps. I offered scented rats once a week until, after nearly a month, my bredli struck, constricted, and consumed a rat. Don't worry about them going hungry for protracted periods; they're perfectly capable of going for months without food.

Finally, once your snake has eaten a rat, NEVER offer another mouse. Keep him on rats and, believe me, he'll start eating them like candy. Also, if your snake constricts, lets go with his mouth, and cruises around for a bit with the rat in his coils, don't assume he's not interested in eating the rat. Some snakes just take a bit of time with their food. I wish I could say the same for myself. ;)

Good luck!

-John


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