new to bp's have a few questions

[Melyssa_anne]

Hi, like the title says I am new to BP's not to herps though. I am getting my first one today. I have had my tank up and going since last thursday to get my temps and humidity correct. Now my question is: This little one i am gettting has been getting live because it wouldnt take f/t. It is 1 1/2yrs old. I want to switch it to f/t, I have read all the tricks and stuff but was wondering if it doesnt take a f/t do i not feed anything or do I give in and give it live so that it has something. If I feed it nothing til it takes a f/t how long is to long on not eating? Thanks alot for any info.
Melyssa

[McAdry]

I am of the belief that if it's eating live and eating well then there really is no reason to switch it other then for your benfit it's just the natural cycle of things and really in my mind the most humane way to feed your snake.If you are going to switch go head it's your snake it may not eat for awhile it might eat the f/t the first time it might eat it once and not the next time just take your time with it bp's can go months without eating we have one that don'st eat all winter and is fine she's an older snake but you said your's is over a year old so she should be fine.

[Melyssa_anne]

Thanks for your reply. One of the reason I want to switch from live to frozen is we cannot get live rats in alberta so I would have to feed multiple live mice which isnt bad but would like to just feed 1 prey item rather than a few. Its not a big deal. If i do feed live I was told that I have to gut load the mice first. Is that true should I buy the mouse or mice a week ahead and make sure it is fed well?

[JLC]

Thanks for your reply. One of the reason I want to switch from live to frozen is we cannot get live rats in alberta so I would have to feed multiple live mice which isnt bad but would like to just feed 1 prey item rather than a few. Its not a big deal. If i do feed live I was told that I have to gut load the mice first. Is that true should I buy the mouse or mice a week ahead and make sure it is fed well?

You don't have to gutload mice. They're fine prey animals for BPs just as they are. Now, if you do buy it ahead of time and feed it well, then you know your BP is getting the best of the best....but it's not a critical thing you need to worry about.

An adult BP can live and grow quite happily on two mice every seven days. Mine is 2 years old and is putting on weight quite nicely on just two mice per week.

ALL that being said....if you want to try and switch to F/T, there's nothing wrong with trying. If the BP you get is a solid, healthy weight, it can go for months without eating, without suffering any serious health detriment. I've heard the "tough love" method of getting them to switch is most effective....if they don't take the f/t that's offered....wait a week and try again....etc. If you give in and feed live, you'll never know if just one more week of holding out might have succeeded.

[BostonMacK]

Just the fact the snake is eating is the most important thing to take into account. If he takes F/T for you just consider it a little convenient "bonus". My snake was eating FT when I brought him home at 6 months so I never fed live. However if all he would eat was live I would be just as happy and content with that. The last time I weighed him he was around 1200g and that was a couple weeks ago. He is coming up on a year and is eating one 70-80g rat a week however many of the veterans here feed their BP's 2 adult mice a week for their entire lives. You will find what works best for you and your snake as you both get settled in to this new experience. You sound like your off to a great start. This place is a wealth of information and great people which for me made the whole experience of getting started that much more enjoyable.

Be sure to snap some pics of your snake when he/she gets settled in.

[Kagez28]

i have two hatchlings i am trying to switch to f/t and its a little frustrating...

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Hi Melyssa and

I think the most important once you get your snake is to get him to eat, allow 7 days without handling before offering food.

When offering food try to offer the same type prey that was fed to him previously (live) so you keep a constant while acclimating to his new environment.

Once he eats for you 3 to 4 times try switching to F/T, it can work right away, it can take time, or it might not work at all so you would need to be prepared to feed live if it was the case.

[Melyssa_anne]

Thanks alot for all the info. I will feed him live for a bit to make sure he will eat. Than try to switch.
Melyssa

[Melyssa_anne]

So I thought I would let you all know how my first feeding went. I decided to try f/t even though its been getting live. Whitin 5 mines of helping the mouse dance around Jade grab,constricted and swollowed her first f/t. yay. Now it gets better she(i am calling it she until I can find out what sex it is) after finishing off the first mouse was looking around for another one so I thawed it out and bam ate another f/t hopefully she continues this

[Dorrox]

I currently have 4 balls and 2 corns and all eat FT. 3 of adult snakes were said to eat live and only live, wont take FT.

Just give her a week and try. Id leave her in the cage. I warm them up in very warm water till thawed ( sounds gross but you can pick them up to find cold spots)

Leave the soaking mouse/rat near the cage for smell. Then dry off alittle and use tongs to daggle it in front of her hide. If she starts to peek out, keep shaking it abit and she should strike if not lay it down near the opening of her hide.

After say 5min and no go , I rewarm up the mouse and try again.

If still nothing Id try a few days later with a new FT mouse .

If she still wont take it then Id get a small live, if she eats get another small live and repeat day day of week then 3rd week try the FT same day of the week.

Thats my