Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just purchased 3 young ball pythons. ( het albino, pastel, and normal ) all are under 150g and all have been fed live to date. out of my other balls, all of which were slightly older and up to adult all of them with the exception of one went to f/t immediately. if anyone has any advice on how to possibly get the three young, and even the adult for that matter, to take f/t it would be appreciated. thanks.
D.

One trick that worked for me when I was trying to get a whole bunch of baby balls converted was to put it in a sweater size rubbermaid tub and then take a deli cup with a lid and put a live mouse in it. Put the deli cup in the sweater box with the snake and let it get good and hungry for half an hour. It will be going nuts trying to get to the mouse, then bring a very warm thawed mouse down with tongs and usually they snap it up like you wouldnt believe! Soon as the python takes the thawed from the tongs take out the deli cup with live mouse or it may get distracted and not eat.

I was given a two year old Ball Pythin, and they told me that they could never get it to eat Frozen. I took a Large Frozen Mouse out and thawed him, Once completely thawed I hit his head area with a Hair Blower on High Heat. I put that mouse near the two year old Ball, and "Whack", he nailed it and ate it.

Then I got two young ones with the same predicament, and it worked on and off with them for about a month. It took about a week and they took their first Thawed frozen that was heated up with a Hair Blower. Then they refused the frozen for about another ten days before they hit again. Now all three for about the last month have been feeding on nothing but frozen mice placed in their cages. So far this has worked 100% for me.

The suggestion above also sounds good.

I finally, FINALLY got mine to start eating thawed yesterday. She's a little over a year old, i had been trying for three months.

First, I did this while the lights were off, except her red night-light. That was something I had not done before. Second, I made sure the mouse was a little warmer than usual. Not hot, just warm to the touch. I danced it around in front of her, and she was very interested (as she usually is) This time she actually struck at it- but she missed- twice! Ultimately I could get her very interested, but she just wouldn't take it. I left the mouse indirectly under the red lamp overnight, and the next morning it was nowhere to be found.

Hopefully next time will be easier, but at least I know she will take them under the right circumstances.