Converting older ball python?

[TheZoo]

I just got an older ball and at the last second the guy told me he feeds live im not thrilled about that as I keep live rats and mice as pets and really don't approve of live feeding. Hes a larger snake not sure on grams will weigh as soon as a i can i would guess though maybe in the 200 range eating small adult rats. Is there anyway I could convert him to frozen. Its also alot cheaper then paying 12+ per live feeder.

[mmarchl23]

I've never done it but i know its possible. Make sure that the f/t rats are warmed up (i use a hot water bath then dry them with paper towels. Then i would say wiggle it around with tongs to make it appear "alive". i actually have the opposite issue... my bp splits if you wiggle the rat...

[Lankyrob]

Just try it, the snake may wwell just convert without having to try any "tricks"

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Just try it, the snake may wwell just convert without having to try any "tricks"

Why didn't you ask before buying it? It's better to ask everything you need to know before buying an animal so you don't have any problems in the future(at least problems that aren't your fault)

[Starbuck]

if you keep rats and mice as pets, be careful to wash your hands/wear different clothes before handling your snake.
i would keep them in separate rooms TBH. would be very stressful to the rodents to see a snake prowling around all the time, and might be tough for the snake to know when its feeding time vs. not.

it may never bother your snake at all, but i know my geckos really dont like seeing my snakes, and my kings are very food aggressive if they smell my corn snakes.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by TheZoo

I just got an older ball and at the last second the guy told me he feeds live im not thrilled about that as I keep live rats and mice as pets and really don't approve of live feeding. Hes a larger snake not sure on grams will weigh as soon as a i can i would guess though maybe in the 200 range eating small adult rats. Is there anyway I could convert him to frozen. Its also alot cheaper then paying 12+ per live feeder.

If it wants live, it wants live.

Shouldn't have bought it with the knowledge you might have to feed it live.

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

Why didn't you ask before buying it? It's better to ask everything you need to know before buying an animal so you don't have any problems in the future(at least problems that aren't your fault)

May I ask why you didn't ask if your baby boa had regurge issues before you bought it?


@starbuck.

I have some rats tiny snake room atm and I've been tagged more times in the last three weeks than I had been in the last three years.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

May I ask why you didn't ask if your baby boa had regurge issues before you bought it?


@starbuck.

I have some rats tiny snake room atm and I've been tagged more times in the last three weeks than I had been in the last three years.

Are you trying to make me out as a hypocrite? I was almost afraid someone was going to mention this so I was going to say the reason I ask is because I made the mistake of not asking all the questions I had before buying the snake. It was a warning to the OP which stemmed from the mistakes I have made in the past.

What do you think I meant by that question? Do you think I was asking in a negative manner?

[KORBIN5895]

Your first sentence was a pretty accusatory and condescending question.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Your first sentence was a pretty accusatory and condescending question.

I see. In that case you perceived it the wrong way, as I wasn't accusing or condescending the OP. As stated before, I was only advising him on something I had to learn the hard way. I am starting to think you have something against me, because you often interpret my posts as having negative intentions.

[bcr229]

Originally Posted by TheZoo

I just got an older ball and at the last second the guy told me he feeds live im not thrilled about that as I keep live rats and mice as pets and really don't approve of live feeding. Hes a larger snake not sure on grams will weigh as soon as a i can i would guess though maybe in the 200 range eating small adult rats. Is there anyway I could convert him to frozen. Its also alot cheaper then paying 12+ per live feeder.

It depends on the snake. Some will do it without missing a meal, others will never convert. All you can do is try.

[Starbuck]

@Korbin; do you feel like the tags are feeding response? Ive always felt that with my kings it was more of a hyper-alertness because they knew food was there SOMEWHERE, not that they necessarily thought I was food. Therefore my snakes were less willing to be handled/moved around because they were too preoccupied with the potential meal/predator.

to the OP; i would go with lankyrob and bcr, just offer a very hot f/t. with live rats in the house, you could always try putting a little bedding from the rats into the snake cage an hour or so ahead of time, to get your snake 'in the mood'. but i would simply try and see what happens first.

[TheZoo]

The question had skipped my mind accidentally I had intended to ask, However I have learned my lesson and if I do bring another snake in from an outside source I will make sure to be more thorough. Thank you all for you advice it is much appreciated. Also my balls are not in the same room with my fuzzy critters my little corn is and they are fine however if the need arises he can be moved.

[bcr229]

BTW $12 for a live feeder rat is insanely high. I would check for local FB herp or snake groups, or online internet forums for your locale/state, and see if you can get a recommendation for a private feeder source.

[TheZoo]

I have been looking into it incase he never takes to f/t