Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 7 hatchlings that are no more than 4 to 5 months old. They have been eating live mice and live small rats since I have had them. I want to switch them over to F/T because it is a pain in the neck to find live sometimes and it gets super expensive. To purchase live, it costs me about $15 a week for 5 snakes. Now I just got 2 more so it will be more expensive for 7. Anyways any tips on how to switch them over is greatly appreciated. I have tongs and I am guessing that I am just gonna dangle the rodent in front of the snake without actually touching the snake, but please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks

Well my new babies that I bought this weekend(Male is 3-4 months old, female is over a year old) just had there first feeding today. Prior to this they only ate live, but today I was unable to get ahold of anything other then frozen so I thought I would give it a try. Got the F/t, grabbed some tongs, dangled it in front of my snakes face and BOOM no more mice.... There was nothing to do switch them other then put it in front of there face...

I think the most important thing is getting the prey warm enough. I heat mine to 98F-100F.

Shelly

Do you just float yours in a sandwich bag in hot water? or is there a better way? Thanks

I found a super fast way to do this: use an old coffee mug thermos with a lid on it. Don't get the water too hot, or you'll literally cook the frozen mouse or rat. Put the animal in a sandwich bag and squeeze the air out. Put that in the mug and fill with hot water. Put the lid on it, and give it 10 minutes. It works really well, as it keeps the steam in as well as the hot water.

I like to thaw them out on top of the vent holes in my vision rack. The snakes know that the rat is there. I use a hair blow dryer to heat the rat up to around 100F-105F.
I use a pair of 18" forceps to hold the rat.(got bit once using a short pair of tongs)
I prefer to feed live. Frozen is a pita. I breed rats.Seems like the way to go.

Dave

9 out of my 11 100% hets for albinos have switched to frozen rat pups

they are just over the 1 month old mark

I wanted to get them off the high $ live ones as soon as I could so one day I just tried it out to see if they would take them

I will admit it takes longer to feed them all doing this but it does save money
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

Why did you buy 11 het albinos. You could have gotten at least one homozygous for that much.

She likely bred them herself, since we're talking about hatchlings.

yes I am a breeder

I own an albino

this is my 3rd year and 4th clutch of 100% het for albinos
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons