Posted by:
jpman78
at Wed Feb 6 16:15:10 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by jpman78 ]
Typically when getting a new snake I leave them alone for 1 week to get acclimated. No interaction at all. After that I try to feed an appropriately sized f/t rat regardless of what they have eatten prior to me owning them.
I set out our f/t rodents in the morning and let them thaw in plastic bags in the herp room. About 2-4 hours before we are going to feed we open the bags and let the room get a bit of the "scent".
I offer at night, usually well after sundown. And typically I also heat up the rodent either by using a heat mat, light bulb, or the microwave for just a second or two on defrost (too long and it's way too hot to offer).
I have had the best success using tongs or hemostats and "dancing" it around the cage after shaking the warmed rodent in the baggie with some fresh rodent bedding. If that doesn't get a strike I'll either lay the dead rodent on top of the coiled snake, or leave it in their hide overnight.
If it's not gone in the morning I give them another week break and try again 
After 4 attempts and no response I'll usually offer a live rat or mouse until the snake eats and then I go back to trying f/t for another 4 weeks.
Usually at somepoint they switch....but sometimes if you get an older snake they are alot harder to switch over 
Hope that helps!
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John Dague
M.W. Reptiles
www.mwreptiles.com
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RE: Switching from live to F/T - jpman78, Wed Feb 6 16:15:10 2008