finding a ball you know will eat frozen

kala83 · 07-04-17, 02:35 PM

so I am really wanting to get another pet snake again. However, I have been told by a petshop owner in town that balls have a bad tendency of not eating frozen at all, only live.

But I am fairly sure after I had done some research on the topic that, you can convert most any snake to eating that way and it is typically better for them in the long run.

if I really am wanting to get a new snake and I want to make sure it does eat and its frozen thawed. Would getting it through a breeder that can assure me they are being feed that way be the best thing to do or what would you all suggest?

**Minkness** · 07-04-17, 02:51 PM

If you are too worried to try the conversion on your own, yes, go with a breeder who has a guaranteed f/t feeder. While most snakes will convert over time, it can be rough on the person who is inexperienced and there are those rare cases where the snake will not convert, leaving the owner with the option to just feed live or nothing at all, or sell/give the snake to someone who will.

kala83 · 07-04-17, 02:54 PM

Well I have just always hear people say is safer in the long run to f/t and it might sound slightly dumb but I have and always will consider myself a rat owner as well. I just enjoy keeping them as pets. so guess I thinking I it would not suite me to feed live.
I know that is lame but it simply being truthful. If I had to for snakes own well being I could try to.

**Minkness** · 07-04-17, 07:14 PM

It's not lame at all, and knowing that about yourself is important. If you are uncomfortable with the transition from live to f/t, then get one from a reputable breeder that is reliably on f/t. There are TONS of them out there. Just don't settle and ask the right questions. =)

Jim Smith · 07-05-17, 07:03 AM

Are you set on Ball Pythons? If not there are other exotics available that readily take F/T prey items. I have a pair of BRBs that are eating machines and gorgeous to look at. Mine have never offered to bite me, but attack F/T prey items like a giant constrictor eating a deer. There are so many different species to choose from that won't give you the frustration of becoming a fussy feeder and forcing you to switch back to freshly killed. Just a thought...

**Aaron_S** · 07-05-17, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Smith

Are you set on Ball Pythons? If not there are other exotics available that readily take F/T prey items. I have a pair of BRBs that are eating machines and gorgeous to look at. Mine have never offered to bite me, but attack F/T prey items like a giant constrictor eating a deer. There are so many different species to choose from that won't give you the frustration of becoming a fussy feeder and forcing you to switch back to freshly killed. Just a thought...

Ball pythons readily eat F/T food. The old myths of balls being picky eaters is just a myth. Proper husbandry and they are amazing captives.

Scubadiver59 · 07-05-17, 10:39 AM

I have an incoming Anthill that won't eat F/T, and my Dumeril's Boa still refuses to eat F/T...so I can empathize with anyone having issues getting their pets to eat F/T.

My ball was a bit picky with it was on a 7-day schedule, striking but not eating F/T, but all that changed when I changed to a 10-day feeding schedule...now she eats like a champ!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Ball pythons readily eat F/T food. The old myths of balls being picky eaters is just a myth. Proper husbandry and they are amazing captives.

trailblazer295 · 07-05-17, 07:18 PM

My BP started out on live and I switched to FT easily. But he is also timid eater in general so that probably helped. If you really like bps the answer is simple and buy from a reputable breeder. All the snake breeders I know of feed FT it's simple economics, much cheaper to buy in bulk and feed your snakes vs live with growth rates, housing etc.

Most snakes will eat FT it's very rare for ones that never switch over. For some it's certain prey stuck on mice etc. But will eat FT in general just picky about what they are eating.

I like my BP but there are a lot of snake options. If it's only FT that is your concern then you have a lot of options.

Wharf Rat · 08-05-17, 03:55 PM

I'm late to this thread, but figured id chime in with my experience. I've only had 2 BPs, but my big boy was on live for about the first 12 years I had him, then switched him to fresh pre killed (cause he got bit by a rat, he was fine, but I was a wreck! lol), then about 4 years ago I switched him to frozen/thawed. He never had any problems with the changes, but he's been a good eater almost all his life. He's 23 now... got him when he was about 3 months old.

My new baby, she's about 6 months now, and she's been on frozen thawed mice since I got her...eats like a pig!

Anyway, ive never had a problem with F/T...but I may have just gotten lucky?

I hear a lot of people say its a problem to feed f/t or make the transition from live... I have never witnessed it.

good luck