Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, you name it...I have probably tried it. My male who has been on live for about 11-12 months WILL NOT take to F/T no matter what I do. I have tried the really warm mouse and weanling Rat, I have dipped both in hot chicken broth, wet ones, dry ones, in the cage overnight ones and NOTHING. I have seen him be afraid of them and also crawl over them. He acts like they aren't even there. I have tried on tongs and off tongs. Moving and still. HELP!!!!! I really want him to switch but even our heart ot heart talks about it haven't sunk in his stubborn mind. I have not let him skip weekly feedings however. I just am not sure it is safe to do so. He weighs about 280g atm.

I went through the same thing with Harry and Fluffy - even tho I got them at just a couple months old - I tried switching them for darn near 9 months - I tried everything that has worked with the rest - even tried not feeding them for a few weeks - occasionally this would help them take f/t but could never get either of them to perminantly switch. I've since decided that there are some balls that won't eat anything without a heartbeat and so they eat live - with me watching over them. Keep trying until you run out of patience or f/t. If he doesn't switch maybe he is just "one of those snakes". LOL
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

Hi Melisssss,
I have eleven balls right now and aquired them over the past two years. All are on f/t regularly! It can take months to switch them, but I think I have it down. What I do is feed them live mice for a month or two while they get used to their new homes, sometimes trying a f/t mouse for the heck of it while I am feeding the others. Then, I go directly to f/t mice (warmed slowly under a heat lamp) offered on tongs "while the room is very dark". I think they are less likely to see the tongs or myself this way. Also, when first trying f/t, I usually rub the f/t on a live mouse or even in it's waste a lttle, in hopes of adding a little "live" scent to the f/t. A month or two later, I defrost some f/t rat pups with the f/t mice, making sure to get some of the mouse scent on the rats, again feeding on tongs, and they have all eventually taken it.
I hope this helps,
Glenn Smith aka "SnakeSmith"

SnakeSmith

My little ball python, Smeagol was on live when i got him and after letting him settle in for two weeks i tried F/T on tongs and he took it after a few minutes. I haven't had him not take a F/T weekly since i started Aug 6th. He does show more interest the warmer the mice are also seems to like the mice slightly raised above his head. I also use newspaper in the feeding container for at least a month (until is starts to smell) with stains on it from the F/T mice.

Not sure if you tried this, but i remember reading it in a book. Try feeding a small live prey item to get the feeding responce. Then while the snake is taking the live put the F/T gently into the mouth in hopes that the feeding urge is strong enough that it just keeps swallowing the F/T.

Then after a few weeks try using pre killed with F/T following then a few more weeks just F/T. Also defrosting and re-freezing a prey item can help give it a stronger smell which may get some snakes to take it.

good luck

Wayne
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0.0.1 03 Normal Corn Snake - Kula
0.0.1 05 CB Normal Ball Python - Smeagol

1.0 Boston Terrier - Blaze
0.1 Long Coat Chihuahua/ Papillion Mix - Taz