getting my ball python onto rats!

[Rae2477]

Hi guys, ive had my nearly 1 year old male albino ball python two weeks now. The previous owner only fed him on chicks and drop fed. . . not good! So i asked my local reptile shop and they suggested defosting a chick and rat weiner together and opening up the chick to scent the rat with the chick and try which i will this weekend ive left it two weeks to make sure hes real hungry to get a better chance, any other suggestions?

[ROACH]

Just offer the rat. Im pretty sure if its hungry it will eat it. Wont know unless you try.

[KMG]

It doesn't sounds like the previous owner was the breeder which means it was most likely started on mice. At one year old, unless its under sized, it should be taking food larger than a weaned rat. Its recommended to feed 10-15% of the snakes weight in grams.

I would say just start with a good size mouse or rat without scenting with a chick. I'm sure it its eating chicks without issue a rodent will be no problem.

Did the previous owner say why it was fed chicks? I'm just curious.

[BALLZY]

The defrosting together trick should work i do it with mice to rats. try the chick defrosted with the rat a few times then switch to the rat defrosted with the chick,then to a rat defrosted alone.

[Rae2477]

the previous owner only fed it chicks, i tried with a rat last weekend and he was practically scared of it i left it over night and he guarded it but then just went to sleep under his paper . . . second try this weekend, what size rat shall i feed? he is about 2 ft in length and a good size

[KMG]

Without a wait it is harder for me to say without seeing it. Get one that is just as wide as the snakes thickest portion. It should leave just a little bulge in your snake once eaten.

One of the most important things when feeding f/t is heat. Make sure you present it while it is nice and warm. I Always feed trouble eaters first so they get the prey at its warmest.