Switching from mice to rats

[NCary]

I am trying to switch my bps to feed on rats since they normally eat 2 large mice in one feeding. My normal male who is a pig took a little time but struck at it and ate it no problem. My female pastel whos just a bit smaller didnt even seem interested. No cocking of the neck, no smelling it, just wanted to explore outside of the feeding container. (the conditions were right, dark, contained, a stunned small rat who wasnt a threat) (they both will only eat live and im always watching to make sure everything goes well, they dont mind me watching normally) She should be hungry its that weekly time and she just got done sheding yesterday. I will try tomorrow, I know its not always easy switching your snakes from mice to rats but any advice on what i could try incase she doesnt seem interested tomorrow would help greatly.

[leobreeder]

scent the rat with a mouse....

[NCary]

how long do i leave the mice in with the rat?????

[leobreeder]

i have never had a problem getting snakes to transition my brother did however. He left them together in a lil plastic cage for 10 minutes or so...that was all the scenting his snakes needed. But it may or may not be different for you.

[NCary]

ya i think its a size issue, my pastel is 26 inches and weighed 315 grams ill try again when she gets up in to the higher 300's - lower 400s like my normal male is. Hes a pig, took it out of my hands before i could drop the rat into the feeding cage. (pondering getting tongs, i know bites dont hurt, hes bit me before, but i dont want to mess up a feeding or him miss and hit me and the rat strike back, even if it is stunned) Hes currently on a full stomach at 400 something grams and 31 inches.

[leobreeder]

not bad...

i dont have any ball pythons. Id like to get some but the amount of space i have right now isnt conducive of adding another species...since i have to have pairs of everything and intentions of breeding them..