She won't eat F/T.

[shelliebear]

I know there are a ton of threads on this, but I think this one is funny and deserves its own thread. XD XD XD
I have tried to feed Cleo F/T mice multiple times, and she acts like she is afraid of it and won't go near it often. When she does go near it she cruises right on over it and ignores the thing.
So I figured maybe drying it with the hair dryer wasn't enough of a smell for her and cut its skull open.
She still didn't eat it. LOL!!! I poked its belly with the knife and she STILL didn't eat it.
So now I've got one nearly dismembered mouse, a hungry and stubborn BP, and...I went to put her back in the tank only to discover Nergal had finally gone to the bathroom. I swear my cat never passes fecal matter of that size.
Hahaha. So it was a funny past few minutes.
I love my snakes.
Should I just try feeding her a live one, and then right after a F/T? I'm thinking she just might be a live eater, but do you think it's worth a shot?
Thanks.
Shellie

[Maverick67]

Ya its worth a shot. At least your BP will have eaten something.

[theartofsolitude]

its funny that we always post this issue almost every same time. lol

seems like we have same feeding time for our bps hehe.

well just wanna wish you goodluck, i'm having exactly the same thing happen with my bee, i'm starting to think he is really just a live eater just like what you said.

[bengalfan]

When I first tried to switch mine he was about 6 months old and was feeding small mice. I took live with some long tongs and lowered it in to the cage the second time I did that I almost lost tong and he struck immediate.after three or four week used a F/T that was heated w/hairdryer and seemed like the snake didnt know the difference. I guess you could try this and see if it helps.

[iCandiBallPythons]

I wouldnt suggest poking a hole in the body as you will have and exploding feeder and a very foul smell during constriction

[Stewart_Reptiles]

How old and big is she?

Usually young animals with strong feeding response are easier to switch now of course having the right conditions helps too.

Pre-scent the room by thawing the prey at room temp on the top or near the enclosure.

Warm up the prey with a hair dryer

And dandle the prey

If the animal in question has a good body weight switching will require TOUGH love this mean if the animal refuses f/t than you do not offer anything and try again the following week. (This again requires an animal in good health with good body weight that can handle not being fed for weeks or months)

Depending on the animal it can go fairly fast, take weeks or months and in some cases well it might never happen.

An other good time to switch a female is after she lays a clutch (if you intend on breeding her), usually after breeding and having spent so many weeks without food females will eat about anything.