He finally ate!

[kendracandraw]

So I've had my ball for almost 3 weeks now, and he refused each meal, I was trying frozen thawed. I skipped the first week since he was shedding. So today I got a live rat fuzzy, and after like 20 strikes he finally realized it was food.

I'd prefer to go the frozen thawed route if I can. Should I just continue to feed live or try frozen thawed again in a month or two? He's still a baby, only like 2.5-3 months. If I have to continue feeding live how can I do it safely? I know I should always monitor feedings, but can i just hold the rat with the tongs until he strikes or what?

[Skittles1101]

I'd try live for a while before trying to switch. After 6 f/t refusals from one of my babies, she ate about 8 live meals for me, she then took a scented f/t rat pup twice in a row

[rperry03]

They generally wont eat live from tongs, plus you're only going to put your snake at risk more. The rodent will get very agitated. For live just place it in far enough away to give your snake enough to hunt and he will be fine.

Once eating becomes steady and he gains weight, hold him out for f/t t. Be aware that some may never take to f/t most do