Switching over from live....

[Dave Barsalou]

Hi Everyone,

Has NE1 ever tried switching ball python hatchling over from live to f/t after a dozen live meals or so? (or tried period after a few meals even) What was the success rate. Where you able to just put the f/t pup in the container and the ball with just take it from there? Just curious as to the success rate. If you had to tangle it or create motion let me know as well.

Thx for looking,

Dave

[Lrptls]

when i got my female bp she was around a foot long, she was very young and i dont know what she had been fed before but i doubt it was FT. her first few mice i gave her were FT, she would constrict them and then ignore them completly. i gave her a live mouse, she constricted it and ate it right away. her next meal was a FT mouse which she also ate.
if i were to recomend to some one an easier way to switch i would say offer live if they wont take any thing else, then pre killed (snakes love it when their food is twitching) and after a few of those try FT. there are a few more tricks like puting them in a very small containor or brown paper bag with food, keep trying to feed them at night, obviously keep making sure your temps and humidity is correct, and lastly (and i have heard this is true) some bps prefer certain color food =S good luck =)

[atropabelladona]

Teasing with some tongs has worked well for me. None of the ball pythons ate live except for their first one or two meals out of the egg, and if teasing doesn't work, making sure the rodent is heated up, braining, and scenting with gerbils have all worked as well.

[revjim_2]

Hi Dave: I've switched all of my ball pythons over to f/t's. Each one is an individual. Most like it to me wiggled, but one male (a one year old who had only eaten live) was quite content to have it left in the container. I have found that it will go easier if the snake is in a hide box - I think it is less intimidating when I am out of sight, and it is easier to mimic live movement. Persistence is the key. And then when you have it all figured out - it will all change. Good luck. Jim

[Dave Barsalou]

Thx guys, I want to have feeding options. For f/t I just want to put it in the cage and move on. If they eat before the next morning great, if not I'll remove it. I just don't want to buy 1000 frozen rat pups and find out they wont take them that way. I cannot tempt them with dangling, haning, shaking, etc. I have to feed hundereds of balls and I do not have that kind of time. Sure maybe now but within 2yrs I won't have that kind of time and if I get them "hooked" on moving f/t then I would be in trouble if I had alot of animals...



Thx
Dave

[Edmond Y]

I wish I will never end up have so much snake to feed like the picture. I don't want my hobby will become heavy work load. May be handle less than forty is good enough for me.
Good luck
Edmond