one more questions on ball pythons

[mrbass111]

i cant get my ball to eat dead mice, the only luck i have had is leaving a rat pup in her cage and she will eventually eat it. is there any trick to getting them to eat bigger food. ive tried leaving dead mice in her cage but she wont take. ive been reluctant to leave a live mouse in her cage overnight cuz i hear that they can attack and injure your snake anyone have any thoughts!!! cuz im sure a rat pup is not much of a meal for her!

[Smulkin]

Have you tried scenting the mouse with a rat yet? I have had success (both directions) doing that before for BP transitions (Rat pup < Adult Mouse < Young rat).

[emroul]

Well, I'd say if she is already on rat pups, no need to switch her to mice. Keep her on the rats, and gradually move up the prey size as she gets bigger. If a rat pup is too small to leave a lump in her belly, try a small rat.

And you are right, do not EVER leave a live rodent in your snakes enclosure overnight!! They can attack severely, leading to scars, infections, and death (easily).

So, it's good you're trying to feed dead prey. How are you offering it to her? What you can try to do (and what works for me everytime) is get a pair of tongs or hemostats and pinch the dead rat by the scruff of the neck and move it around in the cage and make it look alive. I have done this every feeding time for my 20 something ball pythons, and they all go for it within 20 seconds. If not, leave it in with her overnight (DEAD, of course). :)

Good luck,
Jennifer

[mrbass111]

thanks good advice, but she will also eat fuzzies. so i dont think its a scent thing! ive been thinking about the hemostate thing also.

[Big Mike]

I agree, don't try to feed mice if it's already eating rats.

If it will only eat live rats and not dead rats...there are lots of methods to try. Most of them have been explained here somewhere, try a search.

What works for me is to dip the thawed prey into hot tap water....then some dancing on the end of the tongs.