Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.
I got a ball from someone who 'didn't want it anymore'. It's always eaten live mice & is about 3 yrs old. I've been trying to get it to take F/T.
How long should I keep trying to feed F/T before giving it live?
Another ball owner told me to stun the live by putting it into a back & smacking it on the ground.... does that make sense? Sounds kind of cruel but I guess he's going to be supper anyway.
Thanks
-----
Kane
When I made the switch last August, I bought a pair of 15 inch tweezers so the mice and rats could be jiggled in order to stimulate a feeding response. Wow, now that was successful! My ball, Cyrus the Great, hit those rats like a ton of bricks. Exhilaratin ! However, I should also mention that when Cyrus begins feeling full, he suddenly becomes sort of sensitive to my presence and that's when I just have to drop the rat in, turn out the light, and leave the room for a few minutes. He then will swallow that last rat down -- no problem. Hope that helps. Good luck to you!
Mike T.
try feeding it a live one and then a fresh killed one right after. Do that for a while and then try just the fresh killed. Then go to fresh killed followed by F/T. Sometimes it works and sometimes you just have a ball python. And the hemostats will help with wiggling the mouse/rat. Hope this helps.
EP
-----
Occupants not paying rent:
7 balls
2 corns(normal, candy cane)
1 pueblan milk
1 everglades rat
1 cal. king
1 gray band king
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2 fish
1 rat
5 cats
Try repzoo's idea or prekill your mice and offer it on hemostats. I dangled prekilled from the top of my rack with the tub barely open. I held by the tail and bobbed it up and down like a fishing lure. Got him used to that then did it with a really warm(100 deg.) F/T. Or try the brown bag method in the BP Manual.
-----
0.1 Leos
1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
0.1 Banan California King
0.0.1 Childrens python
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
1.2 Ball pythons (1pastel 2 normals)
Help, tips & resources quick links
Manage your user and advertising accounts
Advertising and services purchase quick links
