Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 4 kingsnakes that were eating live pinkies and live lizards. Need help changing them to eat unfrozen pinkies. Any help to convert them to thawed pinkies would greatly be appreciated.I have no means to get live food for them and do not want to lose them. Need any help I can get as soon as possible

I've had this problem and to be very honest some snake won't switch no matter how much you try.

1. have you tried to feed f/t and failed?
If so place the snake with the pinkie in a small sealed container over night or for a few hours and see what happens, I've had better success with over night.

2. How old are your snakes?
It isn't impossible to get older snakes to take f/t but it is more difficult.

3. Defrost the food item and using a pair of forceps move the prey item around so that the snake thinks it's live.

4. Try using pre-killed 1st so the transition isn't as drastic.

5. Offer a live item and a f/t immediately after.

6. Start a colony: breed your own prey items.

7. Lizard scented dead pinkies may work as well.

#1 and #4 has work for me with some snakes not all. i have a small colony of mice that supply food for 2 hypo Hondurans(pre-killed [i'm attempting a gradual switch]), and i give others a "live treat" every now-n-again

Hope this helps!
~ZF

try thawing the f/t food ontop of the tank under the heat lamp/lightfor about 30 mins. ive had lots of success with this method, even getting a stuborn ball to eat during a shed

Edd
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If you cant beat them, Shoot Them..LOL

Well today I heated up some pinkies in hot water held them (pinky) about 2-3 inches away form them they truned and moved away from the pinky.. I will try again in 4 day's.. They are only 3-4 months old. Please keep the info comming..

Thanx JD4040