Ball Python Food Question?

[unholyterror16]

Hello,
I have two EXTREMELY STUBBORN eaters which I know is extremely common! My question is should I feed them ASF rats? I have a reliable breeder close by that breeds ASF and I know that ball pythons love those suckers! I know they will probably never switch back to rats from ASF, so should I do it? They are behind on there growth because of there stubbornness! Should I try ASF? any information will be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Billy

[Naom9Anne]

What is their age and weight? Set up? Etc etc as this will be what you are asked immediately

[Raven01]

Also, prey size, and whether live, pre-kill or F/T are being offered.
Temps, or stress can put them off food and even healthy, content BP's have been known to go off feed for a while.

[unholyterror16]

My male is a year and 7 months, he is barely 300 grams he is in a cage with two hides, logs, fake leaves, alot of areas to hide, etc. his hot side is 92-94. cold side is 82-84
My female is about a year, and is 140 grams, she is in a tub with two hides, a log, fake leaves, she also has alot of areas to hide, etc. the temps are the same .
I offer prey size the size of there girth, I attempt to feed my male live large mice, and my female live pinkys but they just ignore them,
Should I do ASF rats?

[Naom9Anne]

Have you tried placing them in a smaller container for feeding? I feed in my enclosure but was told to try this as an option. It means they are faced with the prey item and may eat.

How are you thawing/heating the F/T?

[unholyterror16]

Yes, I tried that I put them in a small container and left them there overnight, and nothing. I tried F/T once, I thawed them, then heated them with hot water, they looked at is as a rock, live doesnt seem to work either

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

I just feed mine reg rats,I don't think it really matters that much...

I have one who just made the switch to rat pups with no problem,he wants nothing to do with FT only live,and will only eat if put the prey in the tank and turn the day lights off and night black light on,then in about out 10 mins he comes out and does his thing.

but I'd say just stick with reg rats. There easier to get,supply plenty of fat ,calcium and protein,unless your breeding your own asfs,you can just be asking for a headache down the road...this is just my opinion.

[unholyterror16]

Well, I have a supply of ASF from a breeder down the road from me, I was just curious as I heard ball pythons love them

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Well, I have a supply of ASF from a breeder down the road from me, I was just curious as I heard ball pythons love them

I heard the same and I also heard that sometimes when they switch to ASFs,it's hard to get them to go back to reg rats and mice so, my point is......u can buy and find rats in many places,always somewhere to go,but u can't just find ASFs that easily...so my point again is,lol..if this guy moves or relocates or just stops breeding his ASFs,what do you do now? What if now your snakes don't wanna make the switch back to regular rats?You need to weigh out all options and think of the bigger picture. This is all the stuff I would think about,but that's me

[led-zep]

Well, I have a supply of ASF from a breeder down the road from me, I was just curious as I heard ball pythons love them

Well It sounds like you are going to get them regardless so I'd just try them then. What NYHC4LIFE8899 is trying to tell you is that once they start eating ASF it's hard to get them to switch back over once you need to. If it was me I would make every attempt to feed them Rats, whether it be F/T, Live, or whatever. Check and recheck humidity, temps, and substrate. Then if nothing at all will work after a month or so then by all means switch over, but only as a last resort.