newbie ball feeding question

[nat_the_brat]

I am thinking of getting a ball in the near future and an fairly new to snakes all together. In doing my research I find a lot of references to difficulties that may occur when feeding a ball. I have also seen mention of sticking a ball in a bag with a thawed mouse. so my question is,... do balls need a mouse (f/t of course) waved in from of them to stimulate them to strike and eat OR do you simply place a mouse near them and they will consume it? I know this is probably a really dumb question but its something I want clarified. I know with my rainbow boa he won't look at it till he sees it moving.

[BoidKeeper]

Read this it will help.
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49236
Also, don't bother offering mice. Offer rats.
Cheers,
Trevor

[nat_the_brat]

thanks for the link but I don't see the answer to my question. Do you regularly have to wave a rat in the snakes face and wait for it to strike or do you just leave a rat in the enclosure and the snake finds it on its own. OR do you wave a rat in the snakes face regularly and only leave a rat in the enclosure (such as the brown bag method mentioned in the faq) if there are feeding probs.
like I said, I know its probably a really dumb question but I can't seem to clarify it.

[concept3]

if started an p/k or f/t food, it will probably take it without you having to wave it around. However I have an adoption bp that was fed live its whole life and i have to move the p/k with tongs to get him to strike. I think it may just depend on the individual/

[mykee]

Every snake is different. You won't know until you get one, and try feeding it. You're putting the cart in front of the horse. Congratulations of doing some research PRIOR to your purchase though. Good luck. I'm with Trevor, mice SUCK.

[lucky8926]

Like mykee and concept said it depends on the snake. Mine won't show any interest unless I move it a little bit and he was fed p/k from the time he was hatched.

[Herpsrus]

Also, If you make sure you get a CB baby ball instead of the the cheap $30 snakes that have been CH, feeding problems will probably not be an issue. Agreed...mice suck.
Mike

[Wrath]

I wiggle a warm thawed rat near and then in front of her with some hemostats. Sometimes she strikes (and usually misses). Sometimes she is completely uninterested, and even looks annoyed by the rat. In those instances I just leave it next to her and leave the room for about a half hour. At that point it's a 50/50 chance that she will eat it on her own. If not, I toss it.

[nat_the_brat]

thanks for the answers. When i said mice its just my habit of refering to rodents in general. I would feed rats, cheaper and better for them. thanks for all the different answers. gave me a more clear picture on what to expect if I get a ball

[RepTylE]

Just ask the person that you buy the snake from how they present the feeder. My BP's are both dangle it near them chow hounds. With the female it is usually a good idea for me to count my fingers immediately afterwards. So far I still have them all.