Live vs. F/T and Mice or Rats?

[Eragon3]

I plan on picking my first BP up tomorrow and I'm super hyped but also terrified! I want to make sure I get everything right. His current owner has him eating live rats but, I was under the assumption that live feeding can be dangerous...? Also, does a snake usually have to be a certain size to be on rats? Thanks!
(P.S how do I keep up/control humidity?)

[Albert Clark]

Good luck with your new ball python. As hatchlings they are usually started on live hopper mice . Then are quickly switched to either live rat pinks or crawler rats and then appropriate sized rats. During that process breeders usually try to get them on f/t bc it's safer and more convenient. The longer the animal gets a particular prey item the easier it is to imprint on that prey. If the animal has already imprinted on one or the other it will take tough love to switch him over. Especially live vs. f/t. It can be done. What you can do is give the animal a extended time acclimating to his new enviornment without handling him at all. Only going into the enclosure to spot clean and change water. After 10 to 14 days offer a pre killed rat. Then at the next feeding offer a well thawed, well warmed f/t rat. Make very sure to get a very good heat signature on the f/t rat prior to offering. So, rats over mice if possible. As far as the humidity is concerned you can start with a high humidity substrate such as cypress mulch, Reptibark, Reptichip. What type of enclosure are you working with?

[macandchz]

eragon3, i'm glad al gave you good advice. my almost 2 yr old albino ball started out on frozen, but after a 2 month fast' i got worried and gave him fresh killed. that was a mistake because he only eats fresh killed adult mice that i have to get at the pet store and kill at home now. sometimes i'm at the pet store 3 times a week, and killing them is no treat. i probably could convert him, but he is doing so well i don't want to rock the boat. i think mac figures why eat hamburger when this goofy owner will give me steak!

[Albert Clark]

eragon3, i'm glad al gave you good advice. my almost 2 yr old albino ball started out on frozen, but after a 2 month fast' i got worried and gave him fresh killed. that was a mistake because he only eats fresh killed adult mice that i have to get at the pet store and kill at home now. sometimes i'm at the pet store 3 times a week, and killing them is no treat. i probably could convert him, but he is doing so well i don't want to rock the boat. i think mac figures why eat hamburger when this goofy owner will give me steak!

Good point mac! I have a ball python who I raised on mice and rats and also chicks. Most of the mice he got was f/t as a youngster same with the rats. He eventually went on a fast for like 4 months and refused everything f/t. Lost weight and was never bred. I finally decided to give in and offer a live adult mouse and that was that. He took it and now 2 yrs later refuses anything except live mice. He is the only one in my collection that takes only live mice. Some ball pythons want what they want and will never switch over.

[Eragon3]

Thank you for the advice! Are there any tips on switching him to f/t? Also, I setup up plastic tub for him because I read they hold heat and humidity better

[Albert Clark]

If you wait and let him settle into his new enviornment for at least one week then try and feed him and see. Maybe he will switch right away for you but I would go with the pre killed rat first bc usually it's a process. We can go from there depending on his response to what you offer. What sized rat was the seller feeding him?

[sattva]

I got my BEL ball python 3 weeks ago! She was 4 weeks old then, and the breeder was feeding her hopper mice... After 3 days I offered her a F/T fuzzy rat and she ignored it, but I was just seeing if she was hungry... I even did the paper bag trick and it was just to early... I waited 7 more days and I blocked the opening to her cold hide with a F/T fuzzy rat so she would have to eat her way out; she latched onto it like an alligator... shes had 2 F/T fuzzy rats now and I swear she has doubled in size in just this 3 weeks... This is my first experience with a baby ball python so I am feeling pretty lucky with her feeding response... I'm hopping that her fast growth means shes going to be a big girl...
Keep us posted... I'll be curious to see if your as lucky as me... :yes: