Switching new young BP to f/t

[samiam1796]

I recently picked up a new baby ball python (around 5mos. old) from a local reptile expo. I spoke with the breeder, and he is currently eating live small mice. I am hoping to get him switched over to f/t, the sooner the better (took me 5 months to switch my KSB :unibrow:). I have had him for less than a week, so I know that it is best to give them time to acclimate. I do not plan on handling him until he has his first meal.

I wanted to know if I should try with a f/t mouse off the bat? Or should I do his first few feeds with live since that is what he is accustomed to? I know that it can vary greatly depending on the snake. I just don't want to let him continue on live for too long because I know the more meals they have the harder it can be to switch them. If anyone has any suggestions about switching I will gladly accept them!

[craigafrechette]

BPs can be very finicky. But like you said, they can vary greatly animal to animal. If it was me and my snake I would go live for the first one or two meals. Then i would try to switch.

And also, with young BPs especially, I always wait until a new snake has eaten three consecutive meals without refusal before handling. Obviously a little here and there while cleaning, checking on him, etc...but no handling sessions yet. With a juvenile BP, there's 25+years of handling in the future, a few weeks won't kill me.

[kazz]

Why don't you try f/t right away ? It can't harm him anyway. And if he didn't take from tweezers try live him f/t meal for an our and make a complete dark.

[EL Ziggy]

It definitely can't hurt to offer f/t. You might get lucky. I've had a few critters that took f/t their first meal with me after being fed live. All of my snakes eventually accepted f/t even tough sometimes I had to use a little tough love so if at first you don't succeed try and try again :).

[samiam1796]

Thank you all for your suggestions! I'll give the f/t a go and maybe leave it in there for a little bit if he won't take from the tongs. If he doesn't take it, should I try a live that same night? Or would it be better to wait a few days and then try a live?

[Jaseb1987]

Just my 2cents mine was on live mice, he was around 4 months old when I got him, I handled him the same day a couple times and fed him a frozen small rat whatever they are called on day 4 of having him and he snapped it up like he was starving lol just my experience but I'm new to snakes in general so maybe I was just lucky.

[kazz]

If he doesn't take it, should I try a live that same night? Or would it be better to wait a few days and then try a live?
I think best would be place him in small box with thawed prey for a half an hour. If he'd eat it next time try with tongs.

[Aaron_S]

Go with your own idea. Use a f/t mouse and leave overnight if he doesn't take it right away.

You can then try live in a few days.