Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi, right now he's on live but i want to switch him fast to prekilled for his own safety expecially now i've noticed he's not constricting the mouse n being very slow at it and i dont want him to get hurt, he eats weekly easily 2 mice. i've tried to trick him to thinking a dead mouse was alive but he wouldn't buy it but every now and then i can get him to eat one live mouse then eat one dead right after but i want to get him to eat only prekilled, i am asking for any advice at all on how to switch over n the best ways you've experienced doing it
thanks

Hello,
If your snake is not constricting it's live prey it might be too small for it. It's shouldn't be difficult to switch from live to fresh kill. Just stun the prey enough to make it twitch and put it in there. Do that a few feedings then offer a fresh killed for 2-3 minutes (or so) prey and keep increasing the intervals of time from the death to the offering. If the time is long enough to allow the prey to cool, it may need warmed up.

When making the switch you have to remember that your snake is going to know what is food by scent and by temperature. When you thaw out the prey, soak it hot water, but make sure it isn't to hot to eat!! You may have to "tease" the snake to get it to strike, so you may want to wear gloves.

i'll do that, thanks for the info. he does constrict but he's real lazy about it like he'll wait like a sec after he strikes to constrict it and when he does he'll like grab it wrong or something n struggle for a little while untill he kills it but i have started to stun the mice like i'll stun the first one then after that i'll give him a fresh killed one and he'll usually strike it before he even knows what it is it seems
Thanks alot
Zack