Problem getting ball pythons to take frozen thawed

[bradthebanker]

I have 8 ball pythons in my collection 2.1 normals 0.1 pinstripe 0.1 albino 1.0 super pastel 1.0 Vpi axantic 1.0 albino pinstripe . And all but the albinos have been on live and the albinos were on frozen thawed when I got them . And I can't get them to eat frozen. And I want to get all of mine to start eating frozen thawed and none of them will take even the albinos ( just got the albinos) I tried putting them in zip lock bags and in hot water and when the water cools off to room temp I poor the water out and put in more hot and warm up for another 30 min and have only had one take it

My question is is here a better way to heat them up and present the mice/rats to them and take every time.



Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID RAZR MAXX

[edgarfl]

I found it easier to convert hatchlings or under 100 grams. My older bps never took f/t for the exception of one male pinstripe that was on a hunger strike.

I let the rodents thaw out in fridge over night. I then place them on rack so they get to room temperture. I hit them on the head with a blow dryer right before I offer to snakes. One of my female mojaves likes them extra hot while some of them like them at room temp.

I always start with rat pups and if they refuse a few times i offer small mice.

It takes time. Good luck

[Punkymom]

My first thought is that they aren't warm enough. Did you thaw them out before putting them in the hot water? I usually either leave them in the fridge all day and then warm them up or leave them sitting on the counter for several hours before warming them up. If you squeeze their bellies and their heads when they're thawed all the way through they won't be cold. I like for them to get up to room temp before I put them in hot water. I wouldn't wait for the water to cool off before changing it. I do 15 min in hot water, dump out the water, and then 15 more min in fresh hot water. All of mine take F/T and with the exception of one they all take them within seconds as long as their rats are hot. How long have you had the albinos?

[bradthebanker]

I got my albino's on the 18th of December and tried feeding on the 20th and the male albino pin took right away and female albino would not take. Then tried feeding on the 27th still female would not take so I offered live still nothing male wouldn't take frozen thawed but took live just fine. Tried on the 30th before I went on vacation there again male would only take live and female wouldn't eat nothing. I'll be back on the 2nd of Jan and will try again. But I want to give ft to all of them so they won't fight back and any parasite is dead

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID RAZR MAXX

[bradthebanker]

Yeah i take out of freezer and put in hot water and let sit for 2- 3 hours and poor water out and put fresh hot back in for 30 min to get them warmer

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID RAZR MAXX

[Punkymom]

Hmm...I'm not sure, then. I know how you feel, though. I don't have an inexpensive source for live around here and so all of mine are on F/T. I have 1 who doesn't like to eat very often. He refuses 3/4 of the meals I offer him, sometimes more. I'm sure he'd do better on live. Have you tried to do F/K? Or what if you got 2 smaller rats, fed the first live and then had the F/T ready to go as a 2nd prey item? I wonder if that would work. Are they getting wet? My baggies leak a lot and I end up with soaked rats. I try to dry them off really well before feeding. I'm sorry if this isn't helping. I'm really digging here!

[mercerasian]

You can always try the gradual introduction approach. First feed them live but with the tongs. Then feed them freshly prekilled on tongs. And then f/t on tongs. Stay on each step until they take it.