switching an Irian Jaya from mice to rats

[BlindOne]

Title says it all, got a 3.5' yearling that only eats mice. Need to get her switched pronto.

I've tried bagging a rat in with a mouse and mouse litter for 5 hours. She looked a little interested in it but didn't take it. Gave her the mouse an hour later and she grabbed in about 1 minute.

Should I not feed her for a couple of weeks then give mouse scented rat pup?

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

[Coffee Black]

I don't know specifically about IJs but 5 or so years ago I had a jungle that was brutal to switch. I got some advice that worked. I waited about 5 days past regular feeding time and then locked him in a colored (opaque) rubbermaid tub and placed it in the enclosure overnight. Checked it in the morning and the rat was gone. I also got a nice bite haha Supposedly feeding two smaller meals , the first a mouse and the second a rat, also works but I've never tried it.

[stephanbakir]

There are different things you can smear on the rat to make it more desirable but in the end you could always just wait it out. He will get hungry soon enough.

[BlindOne]

Originally Posted by Coffee Black

I don't know specifically about IJs but 5 or so years ago I had a jungle that was brutal to switch. I got some advice that worked. I waited about 5 days past regular feeding time and then locked him in a colored (opaque) rubbermaid tub and placed it in the enclosure overnight. Checked it in the morning and the rat was gone. I also got a nice bite haha Supposedly feeding two smaller meals , the first a mouse and the second a rat, also works but I've never tried it.

I used the following method with a Mangrove I had back in the day. Not sure this girl has the feeding response for that to work.

I may try locking her in a small area with the rat pup.

[red ink]

This is how I got mine to switch rat... Scented rat plus "braining".
Basically scent the rat as per usual then cut the skull to expose the brain fluid carpets cant seem to resist that.
Another thing and this is when sentiments need to be left at the door (or in this case outside the enclosure). Offer the rat with tweezers/forceps as you would a mouse. If it does not stike within 30 sec... walk away and try again next week. Do not give in and feed it a mouse.

I follow this feed regiment with all my snakes switching or otherwise and I never have a problem with them refusing a feed. If they don't grab it when they get the chance they wait another week. Just like they would in the "wild".

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by BlindOne

Title says it all, got a 3.5' yearling that only eats mice. Need to get her switched pronto.

I've tried bagging a rat in with a mouse and mouse litter for 5 hours. She looked a little interested in it but didn't take it. Gave her the mouse an hour later and she grabbed in about 1 minute.

Should I not feed her for a couple of weeks then give mouse scented rat pup?

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

thats what i would do mate

i start all my hatchlings on rats

with the exception of my diamond pythons

they are small as hatchlings and their whole lives grow at a much slower rate than all the other carpets.so i feed mice their first year as they get more nutrition from mouse fuzzys and small mice than they would out of rat pups

i would heat a rat fuzzy and a mouse pinkie up then burst the mouse open and smear it all over the rat

then id give the rat a little extra heat and offer to the snake

you have to be patient and percivere and keep trying the rats.don't be tempted to give a mouse due to being frustrated the snake isn't eating (it will just set the whole proccess back to the begining again)

sometimes i had to brain the rat after smearing with the burst mouse

i know its a bit messy and smelly but it does work with most carpets

i have even sewed mouse or chicks heads onto rats bodys to get them taking rats when all other methods fail

there are exceptions that will never take rats no matter what you try,thankfully they are few and far between

let us know how it goes please mate

cheers shaun

[TeaNinja]

im lucky that all 3 of my snakes took to rats from mice IMMEDIATELY. they are all great eaters.

[BlindOne]

Originally Posted by TeaNinja

im lucky that all 3 of my snakes took to rats from mice IMMEDIATELY. they are all great eaters.

I'm still trying to get this girl switched over, she hasn't eaten in a month

[Lankyrob]

Dont give in - one tremble from you and give her a mouse and you are right back as tsquare one.

[Gungirl]

I'm in the same boat as you Blindone. My ball python hasn't taken food in the last 3 times offered. Im switching him from mice to rats. I am just waiting him out. I offer every 6 days as thats how often he has always eaten. In time as everyone has stated They will eat. Don't worry snakes can go a really long time with out eating. Just keep an eye on her weight to make sure she doesn't start loosing a lot.

Good luck to you and hope she eats soon.

[jmorris7575]

sorry guys, I am one of the lucky ones my IJ Jag is an incredible eater. he sees food and goes nuts.

[ineedsoap16]

My opinion is to wait it out. As long as the snake is not losing weight or becoming inactive it is fine. It will eat when it is ready.

Hey Shaun, out of curiosity, what sis you use to sow a mouse or chick head on a rat? Regular sowing thread?

[BlindOne]

I gave in this weekend and gave her 3 mice.....we'll go back to the dirty rat routine next week. She actually struck and constricted one rat but wouldn't eat it. Argh.

Thankfully, my full grown male IJ is a voracious rat eater. This is the only snake in my collection that eats mice (35 snakes)

[stephanbakir]

Don't give in man!

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by ineedsoap16

My opinion is to wait it out. As long as the snake is not losing weight or becoming inactive it is fine. It will eat when it is ready.

Hey Shaun, out of curiosity, what sis you use to sow a mouse or chick head on a rat? Regular sowing thread?

i used white cotton thread mate

i did not want to use dyed thread,as years ago i got my wife to stitch up my finger to save a trip to hospital.the dye in the thread caused an infection in my wound.

don't think it would do any harm to a snakes digestive system,i was just playing safe

i didn't stich the head all way round like you would the bottom of a trouser leg

i just tacked the head on with roughly 8 to 10 single stitches

it looked pretty gruesome but it worked

was glad we had no visitors that day as i sat at the kitchen table with assorted body parts playing dr frankinstien

chicks heads on rats bodys were the strangest looking of them all imo

cheers shaun