Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today is Nov 13 and I just fed my BP's live rodents. I want to switch them to F/T and there is a show on the 25, where I plan to purchase a bunch of F/T. Since they are not accustomed to eating F/T, should I not feed until the 25. I know its a ways a way, but maybe this will get them hungry enough to want to eat anything. What do you guys think? Thanks...

>>Today is Nov 13 and I just fed my BP's live rodents. I want to switch them to F/T and there is a show on the 25, where I plan to purchase a bunch of F/T. Since they are not accustomed to eating F/T, should I not feed until the 25. I know its a ways a way, but maybe this will get them hungry enough to want to eat anything. What do you guys think? Thanks...

Look!..either share the time machine,or the drugs...today is the 11th.

It all depends on if it has enough to eat since it's first shed...ie,hows it's appetite versus it's weight/size etc.
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Charles Glaspie

these drugs gotta stop, lol

Why switch to frozen thawed? I feed all of my ball pythons live rats.

because you can get larger prey into the snake without having to worry about the prey biting the snake

ball pythons don't always get the right end of the rat and sometimes that leaves the head free to bite. Frozen offers a nice way to keep your snake safe. They are also cheaper in the long run if you have no way to breed rats yourself.

to answer the main question

I got 9 of my 11 het hatchlings to switch without trying any tricks or waiting to feed. I just made their next normal meal the frozen ones. If they don't take it have a back up plan of some live ones so those that don't switch can still eat on time.
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

I'm not knocking you feeding F/T. I was just wondering, because I used to feed, and try to feed F/T, and switched over to all live. It was too hard to get some of them to take the F/T. They would take them for a while, then would just stop. But when I would put a live in, they would coil it within seconds. I feel that I have more consistent feeds, feeding live.

I do still have some that will only eat live

some that will eat either no problem

it is just much easier to feed frozen

I have seen snakes get nailed by both rats and mice. And yes I sit and watch every snake eat that I feed live but no matter how fast I am sometimes the prey gets a bite in before I can get my gloved finger or a ruler between the prey and the snake.

it doesn't happen often but the fact is that it does happen that they get the wrong end from time to time.

what temp are you getting your frozen ones up too? there is a chance that you aren't getting it to a temp the snake sees as food. do you have a temp gun?
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

cause its cheaper and they wont bite my snakes

Oh, and today is the 11th not the 13th... lol