| Author |  Topic  |  | 
              
                | stotty01Hatchling
 
  
 
                United Kingdom51 Posts
 | 
                    
                      |  Posted - 21/11/2010 :  19:25:16     
 |  
                      | hey guys  
 i have had a corn snake for 8-9 months now and i volunteer in a rep shop and i thought its about time for a upgrade in my snake world
  
 i have researched everything i need to know about royals on the care sheet (has been very usefull
  ) and have talked to people in shop who have royals and of course my boss LOL!  but i just wanted to double/triple/quadrupole check with a few questions 
 ive heard that its good to get them switched to rats asap. so when it comes to first feed shall i offer a rat pup? if does not take shall i scent with a mouse?
 
 sorry if these sound stupid questions coming from someone who works in a rep shop
  |  
                      | Edited by - GMac on 21/11/2010  19:34:47
 |  | 
              
                | n/adeleted
 
      
 
                7384 Posts | 
                    
                      |  Posted - 21/11/2010 :  19:40:53     
 |  
                      | Hi, Stotty, been a while since we spoke. 
 Glad you're getting a royal - I've got 2 now, see my sig.
  
 Yes, rats are much more nutritious for royals.  With any luck your new royal will have been reared on rats.
 
 But if it has been reared on mice, personally I'd wait until it is settled in and feeding regularly before making the change to rats (other people may have different views though.)
 
 I'm in the process of switching Shahi from mice to rats ...
  I've tried scenting ... no.  Tried tong feeding, leaving in viv, feeding in rub (which he's used to) ... no. Last time I gave up, but since ratty was still available I went and offered it on tongs again and got a couple of half-hearted strikes, which may mean that next time we may have success.  Or not. 
 There again, loads of people have made the change with no trouble at all.  Every snake is different.
 
 If I were you, if you had the choice, I'd give preference to a rat-eater though!
  
 ps, not that I regret getting Shahi, even if the little git stays on mice!
  |  
                      | 
 
 |  
                      |  |  | 
              
                | stotty01Hatchling
 
  
 
                United Kingdom51 Posts
 | 
                    
                      |  Posted - 21/11/2010 :  20:10:13     
 |  
                      | BATS!!! WE HAVE MISSED YOU RATHER ALOT AT TCS xD 
 the pythons that come in a normally reared on mice so should i just give her mice for 1-2 feeds then try on rat pups?
 |  
                      |  |  | 
              
                | n/adeleted
 
      
 
                7384 Posts | 
                    
                      |  Posted - 21/11/2010 :  20:46:51     
 |  
                      | Aww thanks  ... was busy and then got hooked on this forum.  
 Yes, you could try feeding along those lines.  Unless anyone with more experience has other ideas??
 
 I can't call myself an expert - I haven't managed to switch Shahi over, and Saada's an 09 who came already feeding (enthusiastically!) on rats ... most of them go off their grub when they change homes but she came with her own setup, and never missed a beat ... hey, suddenly occurred to me -
  perhaps that's a tip to try - take along something from the old setup to the new setup, even if it's just some bedding and a cardboard tube? 
 All the best with your new royal!
  |  
                      | 
 
 |  
                      |  |  | 
              
                | BlackechoRoyal Python Admin
 
      
 
                United Kingdom11327 Posts
 | 
                    
                      |  Posted - 22/11/2010 :  07:18:17         
 |  
                      | Personally I'd try a rat pup straight off. Maybe defrost both (msall mouse and rat pup) and if they eat the rat, give the mouse to your Corn. |  
                      | 
    
 
  |  
                      |  |  | 
              
                | KelfezondThe bearded one
 
      
 
                United Kingdom4803 Posts
 | 
                    
                      |  Posted - 22/11/2010 :  09:50:48         
 |  
                      | Welcome to the forum Scotty and goodluck with your royal :D 
 I have two now, Diablo is a 2 month old and Valhalla I think is about 8-9 months. Both are still on mice but I've not yet attempted to switch to rats, Valhalla has grown into a big fat girl on her mice alone so I'm not too bothered about switching just yet I'll wait until she's big enough to handle a nice sized rat before I make the switch.
 |  
                      | \v/ Click me for Kelfezond Reptiles Facebook Page! \v/
 
   |  
                      |  |  | 
              
                | RobertRoyal Python Moderator
 
    
 
                United Kingdom957 Posts
 | 
                    
                      |  Posted - 23/11/2010 :  14:26:45       
 |  
                      | Hi and welcome to the forum |  
                      | 
  
 |  
                      |  |  | 
              
                | stotty01Hatchling
 
  
 
                United Kingdom51 Posts
 | 
                    
                      |  Posted - 23/11/2010 :  19:37:18     
 |  
                      | quote:Originally posted by Blackecho
 
 Personally I'd try a rat pup straight off. Maybe defrost both (msall mouse and rat pup) and if they eat the rat, give the mouse to your Corn.
 
 
 
 i think i might give one or two feeds on mice then go over to a scented rat pup
  |  
                      |  |  | 
              
                | RoyalbobRoyal Python Moderator
 
     
 
                United Kingdom1115 Posts
 | 
                    
                      |  Posted - 24/11/2010 :  16:05:26     
 |  
                      | Hello there. Go with the rat pup, just makes it all easier in the long run.
 |  
                      | 1.0 Enchi butter
 1.0 Enchi X Pastel
 1.0 Fire het clown
 1.0 Bumblebee
 1.0 pinstripe
 
 0.1 Enchi Fire
 0.1 Pastel calico
 0.1 Yellow belly Pinstripe
 0.1 Lemon pastel poss het clown
 0.1 Het clown
 0.1 Yellow belly
 0.1 Green Mojave
 0.1 HC Albino
 0.2 Normals
 
 
  |  
                      |  |  | 
              
                | matty87Snake Mite
 
 
 
                United Kingdom21 Posts
 | 
                    
                      |  Posted - 25/11/2010 :  19:53:39     
 |  
                      | im so glad you asked this question stotty01  i bought my royal when he was 8 months old and he was reared on mice, hes now nearly 12 months and is still on mice (gone from small to medium mice) he cant get enough an always wants his food. so the question is should i change to rats or just leave him on mice cuz hes happy?  |  
                      |  |  | 
              
                | n/adeleted
 
      
 
                7384 Posts | 
                    
                      |  Posted - 25/11/2010 :  21:39:39     
 |  
                      | quote:Originally posted by matty87
 
 im so glad you asked this question stotty01
  i bought my royal when he was 8 months old and he was reared on mice, hes now nearly 12 months and is still on mice (gone from small to medium mice) he cant get enough an always wants his food. so the question is should i change to rats or just leave him on mice cuz hes happy?  
 
 
 Hmm, vexed question this - see debate above.
 
 Rats are definitely more nutritious for a royal - plus they're more suitably sized food - if your royal (and mine) stay on mice, we're going to be feeding several mice, indefinitely, per meal if they grow to be whoppers.
 
 But (and this is only my personal opinion) if Shahi will not take a rat, I'll give him a mouse rather than deprive him of a meal (I'm lucky to have corns and one of them will recycle the rat.)  But I will keep on trying him with a rat, and maybe one day the little git will oblige!
 
 On the other hand you may have no trouble at all in switching over.  Good luck!
  
 |  
                      | 
 
 |  
                      | Edited by - n/a on 25/11/2010  21:51:24
 |  
                      |  |  | 
              
                | stotty01Hatchling
 
  
 
                United Kingdom51 Posts
 | 
                    
                      |  Posted - 03/12/2010 :  22:27:53     
 |  
                      | tryed at rat pup defrosted mouse over the top of it as i need it for my corn. heated it up with hairdryer didnt take :( put mouse blood on it nope :( left in viv nope :( gonna try a medium-large mouse tomorow :) |  
                      |  |  | 
              
                |  |  Topic  |  |