Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have 10 snakes and feeding them live rats is just getting way to expensive so i have started using thawed. my male who is 3 just wont take a thawed but the rest will. any advice on how to get him to switch or could he just refuse until a live rat is in?
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:hris 2.3 norms 1.1 pastel 0.1 spider 1.0 cinnamon 1.0 yellow belly

I had similar trouble with my BP. He would only take live food, mice or rats. He is now switched over to FT rats.

Try taking a live rat/mouse and killing it just before giving it to him. You will want to do it as quick as possible, to be as humane as possible to the rat and to make the body as fresh as possible. Try to avoid making the rat bleed. Use a long handled grasper of some sort, I use a hemostat, to hold the rat and wiggle it for the snake. Make sure he cant see your hand.

If he takes the fresh pre-killed then you stand a better chance of getting him to take the FT rats/mice.

My ball will often still constrict his FT rats for a few min before eating, but some times he seems to know they are dead and just gently takes them from me and swallows. Depends on his mood and how hungry he is.

Hope this helps.
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1 BP
4 Cal Kings 3 alb 1 het
3 Alb Corn
1 Rev Alb Nelsons

I've taken the advice of several breeders and started thawing my rats much slower. I just put them in front of a fan for several hours. Then when they are thawed is when I heat the head next to a lightbulb or on a heating pad.

As for doing pre-killed, I use Trapper T Rex Snap Traps. You can get them in sizes for big rats or small mice and are pretty much idiot proof (a must in my house) so you can't get your fingers by accident. A little bit of peanut butter on the tongue of it and they walk right in. Quick, humane, clean, and you don't have to do the cervical dislocation yourself.
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3.4 ball pythons
1.1 kingsnakes
0.1 crazy cat
?!.?! ASFs
1.0 husband

ok thanks for the help ill give it a shot and see how he does. hopefully the fresh kill will help. he was interested in it but never struck. thanks
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:hris 2.3 norms 1.1 pastel 0.1 spider 1.0 cinnamon 1.0 yellow belly