The FT conversion

[BJJPython]

So I got my new ball last weekend, and he's a live feeder atm. I would prefer to do FT. I tried giving him his first FT mouse last night, he seemed mildly interested in it, he gnawed on the end of it for a bit, even opened his mouth and tried to get it down (albeit he kept doing this at the MID point the mouse, trying to go at it from a perpendicular angle, which obviously didn't work). I tried using the tongs to move it around by the tail, seeing if he would go for it, he kept seeming interested, and then just wouldn't strike. Then I tried jsut leaving him in the box, closing it up, keeping it dark, and I think by that time, he had had enough. Any suggestions on how to get him to do it, other than just persistence? Anything odd things people have found that work? Is it better to dangle it around making it movelike a real mouse, or is it better to just throw it in nice and warm, close the box, and let him figure it out. (I don't feed him in his tank, rather a cardboard box from Petco (my GF works there, so it works out nicely, they feed their guys in them, and they love it). Thanks for the help!

[stratus_020202]

Hmmm. Maybe its not warm enough. How are you thawing it? have you tried running its head under hot water? That would make it the hottest part, and entice the snake to the correct part. I really doubt if it's a box issue. If it works for him, and you, its a match made.

[Neal]

I never really had an issue switching to F/T, but here is a few things to try. I take the mouse out about 9am. I let it sit out till about 2-3pm, then I get some hot water out the sink, I put the mouse in the water(The mouse stays in a ziplock bag the whole thawing process) then I sit a glass full of hot water also on top of the ziplock bag to keep it submerged under water, I let it sit in there till the warm gets luke warm, then it's usually good to feed. The mouse is warm, its fully thawed out, then I hold the mouse by the tail and wiggle it in front of my Annie and she snatches it up then chokes it. Try that see if that works for you, make sure its fully thawed though because im sure our house temperatures are different. If that doesn't work then you can try to rewarm the mouse in warm water and try the leaving in a dark paper bag. I'm pretty sure the wiggling the mouse in front of him will work though as it will make him seem live.

[BJJPython]

Alright I'll try that. He definately seemed interested but just didnt go for the whole SNATCH. I sort of tried all that, but maybe he just wasn't hungry last night. he's also new, I've only had him for about a week now, so he may still be getting used to the surroundings. Hopefully he stays on feed!

[blackcrystal22]

Alright I'll try that. He definately seemed interested but just didnt go for the whole SNATCH. I sort of tried all that, but maybe he just wasn't hungry last night. he's also new, I've only had him for about a week now, so he may still be getting used to the surroundings. Hopefully he stays on feed!

It's not that unusual for snakes to not 'strike and coil' their prey if they can tell it's dead. If you leave it in there, and leave him alone in the dark for a while he'll eat it. :]

[dsmalex97]

yeah, I am having this problem too...I really would love to get them off of live but I feel like i tried everything on them, but they just don't get it. I'm gonnna try one more time, and see what happens if not I give up, cuz i really don't like sitting there for 15 min dangling a stupid mouse in the air anymore lol. I wish you luck!

[mainbutter]

Ball pythons really do MUCH better with warm prey. They seem to rely much more on their heat pits than eyesight for hunting. The one time I let a prey item thaw too long, it cooled off to room temp, and my girl struck and missed 4 times when I offered it to her(stupid me should have warmed it up again right away). She could smell it and was hungry, but had a hard time figuring out where to strike.

I went and gave it a quick warm water bath, and returned to feed again, and BAM she struck and coiled no problem.

This is another reason to feed using tongs. We're warm blooded, and our hands can look more like warm prey than the thawed food item we are offering if you feed by hand.

[Neal]

Well you shouldn't have to dangle there long, I dangle for maybe 2-3 seconds before my snake gets it, and she doesn't even strike it, she just goes up to it, opens her mouth bites down on it then I let go and she coils. Try for a minute or 2 to dangle, if that doesn't work just put in a dark paper bag for about 20 minutes, but try re-heating before you do that.

[BJJPython]

Alright well a few more notes on myself. 1) I got him 8 days ago, tried feeding, and wasn't quite interested yet. 2) He just started going into a shed (I was getting upset saturday when he just wasn't looking as pretty but then yesterday I saw him with his glazed over eyes and very ghostly brown skin, and said AHA!). Do you think he's going to want to eat since he's shedding? He was very grumpy yesterday during the day when I wanted to handle him, he hissed at me when I tried taking him out of his cool-side-hide. I let him be, don't want an angry python. Anyway, when should I try to feed him next? Also, what's consensus, do I do the dangle method? or do I just drop in his dead food and leave it there? Another question, how long do I go until I say screw it and drop in the live mouse? I really don't want to, but how long until I might start endangering his wellbeing? Thanks for all the help and support!

[PythonJiuJitsu]

Im sure we will prolly talk about it more tonight bro but, just something that popped into my head. BP's can go quite awhile without feeding and wellbeing wont be endangered. But sounds like you've got some great advice from these guys on heating it up, to wiggling it around. Im sure he'll eat soon. From my experience ( Except for Hera who will eat 24 7 if I let her ) I find that after the shed they are quite ravenous and will eat almost immediately. Just my 2 pennies but like I said im sure we'll talk more.