Switch to live??

[Mouse]

I am just wondering if I should give Mouse a live mouse. He is just way skinny. he is about 21-23 inches long. Can he take a small live mouse? And should I give him one just to get something in his system. He isn't interested at all in f/t. What do you think?

[Shelby]

I would try it.. if he's skinny, it's important to get him to start eating.

At almost two feet he could take an adult mouse or a small rat.

[Mouse]

should i feed it to him in his cage, or take him out and put him in another tub?

[Shelby]

In the cage. I feed all of mine in cage.

[frankykeno]

Like April I'd suggest a live feeding if this snake is consistently refusing f/t and is getting skinny. A young adult mouse should do nicely (not a huge old exbreeder mouse....they can get really big). Please make sure to either ask questions or review threads here on safe live feeding procedures first though so that you are handling it well and watching Mouse for the proper reactions to live prey. I also feed in their home enclosure and believe, especially with live prey, a snake needs to feel safe and secure when hunting and that's best achieved in their own environment (just my opinion though folks).

As always, when it comes to feeding refusals...please double check your husbandry and consider getting a fecal done just to be safe.


~~Jo~~

[Mouse]

Can you let me know some of those procedures or give me a link? Thanks!

[frankykeno]

Have a read through the BP Husbandry forum...search for "live feeding" threads...that's a great place to get a ton of good info from a wide variety of folks here that live feed.

Afterwards if you still have questions I'm sure we can happily address any specifics for you.

~~Jo~~

[Mouse]

didn't find anything I didn't already know. We'll see how it goes I guess. I am starting to think this Ball python thing isn't for me. I like my corn snakes that eat every five days without problems...

[Shelby]

With BPs you have to get used to the fact that they won't eat every time you offer, and that's fine. Having said that.. now that I feed my BP live, he has never refused a meal.

[frankykeno]

Wow every thread on live feeding in 14 minutes...that's gotta be a personal best LOL.

BP's are not like cornsnakes so yes you will face different challenges and husbandry needs and handling things. Just a fact of life in a mixed collection.

If BP's are not for you then I would suggest making other arrangements for Mouse before he/she goes too much longer w/o feeding. Alternately, you could try live and see how Mouse does....you may be quite surprised at the reaction. Do you know if Mouse was on live or f/t and was it mice or rats before you got him/her? Has Mouse ever eaten for you? How long since Mouse's last successful feed?


~~Jo~~