Switching Ball Python to f/t mice?

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by vypr

I have have 1 month old Ball Python, the breeder said he didn't have enough time to switch him from live to frozen/thawed.


Here is a timeline

July 19th - Purchased
July 21st - Food day, didn't eat
July 22st (night) - Retry, he didn't eat... Place mouse in terrarium overnight. Unsuccessful.
July 23rd - Not sure what to do


NOTE: I've tried feeding hooper and large pinkies

Too many attempts in too frequent of a time line.

What I recommend all people with baby ball pythons to do is a couple easy steps.

1. The key is to be consistent! Offer only once every 5 days.
2. As above be consistent with the prey item! I use a live hopper mouse for the first couple of meals of my baby ball pythons. You should do the same to establish it eating before switching to frozen/thawed.
3. Double check all husbandry to ensure it's 100% accurate, then check it again. Many times this is the issue and not the snake itself.

Give the snake 5 days with leaving it alone and then offer it a live hopper mouse or whatever it was eating at the breeders.

Lastly, why didn't the breeder "have time" to switch the snake to f/t? Why was he or she in such a hurry to sell the snake? For me, I don't even put them up for sale until they are eating F/T.

[vypr]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Too many attempts in too frequent of a time line.

What I recommend all people with baby ball pythons to do is a couple easy steps.

1. The key is to be consistent! Offer only once every 5 days.
2. As above be consistent with the prey item! I use a live hopper mouse for the first couple of meals of my baby ball pythons. You should do the same to establish it eating before switching to frozen/thawed.
3. Double check all husbandry to ensure it's 100% accurate, then check it again. Many times this is the issue and not the snake itself.

Give the snake 5 days with leaving it alone and then offer it a live hopper mouse or whatever it was eating at the breeders.

Lastly, why didn't the breeder "have time" to switch the snake to f/t? Why was he or she in such a hurry to sell the snake? For me, I don't even put them up for sale until they are eating F/T.

Very informative, hopefully I didn't do any damage from stressing him out. I am so used to Milk Snakes eating everything it sees. Lol

I'll probably go and buy a live hopper if he doesn't eat my f/t this weekend?

Also I'll get some pics up soon of his place, but he has:
3 hides
40-50% humidity
1/3 90f under the tank heater

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by vypr

Very informative, hopefully I didn't do any damage from stressing him out. I am so used to Milk Snakes eating everything it sees. Lol

I'll probably go and buy a live hopper if he doesn't eat my f/t this weekend?

Also I'll get some pics up soon of his place, but he has:
3 hides
40-50% humidity
1/3 90f under the tank heater

I'm going to answer this in a couple posts as I'm too lazy to multi-quote.

Yes I would just go with the live hopper anyway.

If you can up the humidity that would be good too. Another 10 - 15%. A spray once a day would be fine. Just don't spray your lamp.

[vypr]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I'm going to answer this in a couple posts as I'm too lazy to multi-quote.

Yes I would just go with the live hopper anyway.

If you can up the humidity that would be good too. Another 10 - 15%. A spray once a day would be fine. Just don't spray your lamp.

So I should try and maintain 60% humidity?

[Lankyrob]

Originally Posted by vypr

So I should try and maintain 60% humidity?

I used to keep mine at a minimum of 60-65% and up it to 75% at shed time.