When do they change live to f/t

[gusanr14]

Hello,
I am trying to get my first ball python and I have been visiting reptile shops, asking if they feed frozen or live. All of the stores say that they feed live to ball pythons, baby and adult. I heard some breeders switch to f/t before selling the snakes but is it not usual for reptile shops? I guess feeding f/t is time consuming for shops but I am not 100% confident about switching to f/t myself. I am planning to go to repticon next month hoping to find breeder that already has switched their babies to f/t. If not, I will have to try switching myself but I just had some questions. Are there certain age or weight that allows ball python to change from live to f/t? should I try feeding f/t on the first feed? or offer live few times and change?
I have no idea what is best honestly, and I am sure it depends on snakes preference but any tips?

Also, if f/t does not work out at all, reptile shop near me carries live too so I won't starve the snake but not preferred.

[KMG]

Many shops feed live because they raise them there and it is the easiest to just toss one in instead of killing them first.

As to when you should switch it doesn't matter. No set weight or time to do it.

As for switching it is usually not a big deal and I think you are worrying about it much more than anybody should. The main thing when feeding f/t is making sure the rodent is warm enough to properly resemble the heat signature of a live one, which are just over 100F.

[gusanr14]

Many shops feed live because they raise them there and it is the easiest to just toss one in instead of killing them first.

As to when you should switch it doesn't matter. No set weight or time to do it.

As for switching it is usually not a big deal and I think you are worrying about it much more than anybody should. The main thing when feeding f/t is making sure the rodent is warm enough to properly resemble the heat signature of a live one, which are just over 100F.

yea, maybe I am worrying too much haha. I hope I can do it well

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Switching can be done at anytime, usually the younger they are switch the easier it is.

Some breeders switch their animals some do not, when you produce 100, 200. 500 animals feeding is time consuming and switching is not always an option.

As a breeder I switch animals on demand for customers but only guarantee that an animal is switch if the animal takes at least 5 consecutive F/T meals.

If you know how to do it switching can be easy however you can have have a stubborn animal that may not switch right away and take several months to switch.

If you want an animal that eats F/T ask the breeder if the animal eats F/T and if so how many F/T meals the animal has taken (eating 1 f/t prey does not qualify has being switch, nor does an animal going back and forth.)

[gusanr14]

Switching can be done at anytime, usually the younger they are switch the easier it is.

Some breeders switch their animals some do not, when you produce 100, 200. 500 animals feeding is time consuming and switching is not always an option.

As a breeder I switch animals on demand for customers but only guarantee that an animal is switch if the animal takes at least 5 consecutive F/T meals.

If you know how to do it switching can be easy however you can have have a stubborn animal that may not switch right away and take several months to switch.

If you want an animal that eats F/T ask the breeder if the animal eats F/T and if so how many F/T meals the animal has taken (eating 1 f/t prey does not qualify has being switch, nor does an animal going back and forth.)

Thank you for good information. Now I have more knowledge to ask breeder about f/t. Do breeders usually know which eats well and which is stubborn? I have a set budget and I am going to pick some around that budget and within the choices, I was going to ask which eats well and probably go with that haha.

[Hannahshissyfix]

I try to start my babies on ft from their first meal and have a very high success rate besides the occassional one that needs a couple live meals before it takes ft. I think the sooner you swich them the easier it is. Ive purchased dozens of snakes on live and got them all switched to ft so it will happen with enough time and patience. The longest it took me was a full 2 years for an adult that had been on live for years. Ive also had plenty of young ones that switch right to ft their first offering without seeming to know the difference so try not to get so set on it going to be a difficult process and stress before it even happens. There are plenty of tricks to make the switch smooth but the most important is to have their husbandry on point and similar to their previous environment and dont handle them until theyve eaten a few meals. I also have best luck feeding them at night after the room has been dark and quiet for a bit.

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[PitOnTheProwl]

I have always fed live until about 7 months ago.
Only because of the time it takes to properly care for a couple hundred live rats, I wanted my weekends back.
Now I have to go buy live mice for my hatchlings......
I will switch them over the F/T after they are over 200g IF still in my care. I advertise them once they are over 100g still eating live.
Now the problem is I still have a couple of my large adults holding out on me but they havent lost any weight yet so all I can do is offer and wait.
Many switch easily if you prepare their meal correctly. I dont think an animal will starve itself to death but if there is significant weight loss then you might have to cave in and feed a live or two.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Thank you for good information. Now I have more knowledge to ask breeder about f/t. Do breeders usually know which eats well and which is stubborn? I have a set budget and I am going to pick some around that budget and within the choices, I was going to ask which eats well and probably go with that haha.

Yes small breeder are on the top of things and an ethical breeder will not sell you something that is inconsistent or not feeding well (I would rather hold back the animal longer than selling something that may not feed well), that being said keep in mind that because a snake feed well with the breeder does not mean he will feed well for you, there is the issue of change of environment and people that do not offer optimum security as a breeder does and end up with issue right of the bat, them older animals are more notorious to cease feeding when changing environment which is usually a matter of patience.

Remember before goinf to a show always try to check who has a good rep and who does not and you can do so here on the BOI

[PitOnTheProwl]

keep in mind that because a snake feed well with the breeder does not mean he will feed well for you

This right here is why I prefer to get more weight on them than the standard three meals. I see snakes for sale all the time in the 60 yo 70 gram range. Not that there is anything wrong with it but if it has had 7 or more meals with me, that give it more time to eat with you.
Checking reviews of a seller is a great way to know who you are dealing with too. Just because they have a fancy table doesnt always mean they are a good breeder.

[gusanr14]

Yes small breeder are on the top of things and an ethical breeder will not sell you something that is inconsistent or not feeding well (I would rather hold back the animal longer than selling something that may not feed well), that being said keep in mind that because a snake feed well with the breeder does not mean he will feed well for you, there is the issue of change of environment and people that do not offer optimum security as a breeder does and end up with issue right of the bat, them older animals are more notorious to cease feeding when changing environment which is usually a matter of patience.

Remember before goinf to a show always try to check who has a good rep and who does not and you can do so here on the BOI

thanks for that website, but how do I use this? I registered and I was in board of inquiry forum to check the name of tables coming to repticon but I can't seem to find any. Are they just not on there? or am I doing something wrong. I just clicked search this forum and typed the name of breeder/shop. Not the person name though.