Mick the Mouse Eater

[exwizard]

Ok it looks like this is going to take time and thats ok because we have plenty of supply of both rats and mice. It seems Mick, my male IJ is our only mouse eater. He does not like the taste of rats. A couple of days ago he hit it, constricted and killed it, but left it for dead. I heard from a couple of breeders that if you wait until he is about two years old, he will naturally switch over and frankly, whether or not he does, it still will be a long process. Im not worried about his nutrition either because for him being a yearling still and the fact that hes still small enough he can do fine on one adult mouse or two hoppers per meal once a week but I would eventually like to get him switched to rats. So starts the process....

[Caylan]

We had a mouse eater... would not take a rat ever... we ended up giving him soft furs instead. He loved those, would snatch them right out of mid air. Bigger for him at least. You could try them as well.

[exwizard]

Problem with that is that we dont breed ASFs and we donrt know anybody who does.

[exwizard]

Ok its still happening and I had such high hopes. Yesterday, I fed everyone and everyone except the Corns ate... at least I thougt so. First off, I accidentally gave Sheila the mouse and Mick the weaner rat. Mick took it right away and I thought "ok, next week he will be on rats like everyone else". Then this afternoon, I smelled death so I investigated. It turns out that weaner was dead in his tub. He took it, constricted it and killed it, then left it. I guess next week, he will be back on mice. Ugh!

[Terranaut]

Have you tried a smaller mouse followed by a small rat?
Our little jag is on rats already. Switched him from pinky rats to fuzzys 2 weeks ago. He does not "kill it" (they are f/t) but rather takes it and slithers away like a dog with a new bone. He will not eat it until we leave the room. Then its gone right away. The breeder told me he puts his on rat pinkys right from the first meal and never used mice. This is my plan when my little guys hatch next week.

[Rogue628]

I had issues with one of my burns not wanting to take rats, whether it be live or f/t. She would only eat mice. Desperate, I started piggy backing rats behind what she would eat. Each time I fed her I'd offer her a rat, which she'd refuse (she'd refuse anything that remotely smelled like rat, so other techniques to get stubborn ones to switch wasn't working). Then I'd give her what she would take and piggy back a rat. Eventually she got to where she'd take the rat. It took a few months (literally), but it did work. Where all the advice and suggestions to get her to switch failed, this eventually worked. Maybe this is something you could try.

I hope that made sense as I'm brain dead from working both jobs today.

[exwizard]

Ok no more Mr. Nice Guy. I tried mouse scenting and more recently like in yesterdays feeding session, I tried feeding a rat pup on the tail of the mouse, to no avail. Mick will vo on a 3 week fast. After that, I will offer only rats. If he refuses, he goes without for the week. He's 2 years old. He ought to be on rats by now.

[shaunyboy]

Ok no more Mr. Nice Guy. I tried mouse scenting and more recently like in yesterdays feeding session, I tried feeding a rat pup on the tail of the mouse, to no avail. Mick will vo on a 3 week fast. After that, I will offer only rats. If he refuses, he goes without for the week. He's 2 years old. He ought to be on rats by now.

i've never heard the.....

once they're 2 years old they will naturally cross over thing before mate,the opposite in fact...

imo the older a carpet gets,the harder it gets to switch them over

it took me 6 months to get my female Diamond to go from,striking...tasting...immedietly letting go,when they taste it's a rat:confused:

i just kept heavily scenting rats until she finally ate

i had to annoy her with the prey at times,to get her to strike it,i basically slapped her in the face with the rat fuzzy ,not hard,just enought to piss her off,into striking

its a gory buisness heating mice up,heating rats up,then bursting the mice and smearing blood and guts on the rat,then re heating the rat a bit more...

it stinks a bit mate:hmm:

you could always...

sew mouse heads onto rats,i've seen this work before:eek:

cheers shaun

[Terranaut]

This is why my babies started out on rat pinks.
They will never have a mouse. Good luck. It will work.

[shaunyboy]

This is why my babies started out on rat pinks.
They will never have a mouse. Good luck. It will work.

i'm the same mate.....

from right out the egg,they only get offered rats

the only mice feeders i've had were bought from other breeders (who should have known better :angry: )

cheers shaun:)

[exwizard]

i'm the same mate.....

from right out the egg,they only get offered rats

the only mice feeders i've had were bought from other breeders (who should have known better :angry: )

cheers shaun:)

Ok, I did not hatch Mick, I bought him last year as a yearling. Sheila does just fine on rats. Why Mick doesn't, I have no clue.

[shaunyboy]

Ok, I did not hatch Mick, I bought him last year as a yearling. Sheila does just fine on rats. Why Mick doesn't, I have no clue.

my dig was at carpet breeders who feed hatchlings mice

not you mate

Mick most likely preffers the taste of mice compaired to rats

i'm thinking snake wise.....

mouse = steak

rats = cheap crappy meat out a can (like spam)

cheers shaun

[Terranaut]

Do you wash the rat before scenting?
A little soap and water with a real good rinse will get the rat pee smell gone so the mouse scent is stronger.
I truly think any descent breeder should be aware of this and start on rats.

[MoreliAddict]

I truly think any descent breeder should be aware of this and start on rats.
No reason for any Carpet breeder or keeper to ever give their snake a mouse.

However, I've seen some of the best carpet breeders do it...

[shaunyboy]

No reason for any Carpet breeder or keeper to ever give their snake a mouse.

However, I've seen some of the best carpet breeders do it...

^^^^^
my thoughts on that are.....

maybe it's easier,less work,to get hatchling carpets eating on mice ?

i can't say from experience,as i never offer mice

re washing
i never washed the rats,i just plastered them in mouse,guts,blodd,etc

cheers shaun