Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone. I fully understand which each mean. With that said, are BP's really able to tell the difference between the two? Does a F/T rat that is properly thawed out and heated (blow dryer etc....) lack qualities that a F/K rat posseses. Many times I've observed classifieds listing their animal as a F/T or F/K feeder. If executed properly, is there really a huge difference between the two? Theoretically, the body temp and scent of the prey are the two main variables involved here. Do they deviate drastically between the two?

Thanks in advance.

T

I generally feed f/t ordered from a supplier, but for the few animals that I have that eat only live - I breed a few rats. On occasion I have had to serve p/k to my f/t eaters and about half of them won't take the p.k. (or live for that matter). If I stick the same rat in the freezer for a couple of weeks they take them readily. Yeah - I keep them on the same bedding as the ones I get from my f/t supplier - I called and asked. Go figure. I don't know what the difference would be - but they seem to be able to tell. Someone said that African Rats (which non-eating WC balls take readily)have no or very little scent - so I'm wondering if the freezing process helps to eliminate some of the additional smell of the rat? I don't know - just think aloud.

I'm sure you were thinking p/k would work better then f/t - maybe it does for some people - balls are funny like that.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

6.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.1 Lizard of unknown origin

My experience is exactly the opposite. I have many of them would rather eat PK rather then f/t. I use to feed f/t all the time, but that was when I only had 6 or 7 snakes. Eventually I convert to almost entirely to live or PK rodents. Just my experience within the last couple years. You don't want to spend all day warming up rodents in your incubator or a heat pad because its convient. You would rather breed them, stunned them and throw them in the cage. After so many snakes, the convient choice is usually the most used.

well, I have generally had good luck getting my balls to eat. I have one that is 3 years old and would only accept fresh killed, never f/t. Who knows. Anyway, he finally started eating f/t this year. Didnt do anything special, just tried a f/t one day and he took it and we havent looked back. I hated thwacking mice over the head. LOL

ep
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Occupants not paying rent:
1.1. balls
1.1 corns
1 everglades rat
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2.1 cats