Live to f/t switch

[derrabe]

Any one got any good advise on how to make the transition from live to f/t I tried once and the one did the "zombie" dance but never struck and the other didn't really show more then a slight interest. Due to the safety concerns of live plus the pricing I want to switch over before I move up to feeding rats. Any help would be nice. The day i first attempted and they weren't interested I gave in and bought them each on live mouse out of guilt I guess. But after I did that someone suggested to let them go a couple of weeks with out eating and maybe they would be more willing to eat when i tired next. I feel like I am being cruel though just letting them go 2 weeks instead of my normal 1.

[JasonG]

ive tried frozen before... never got it to work...

A few feedings ago 2 of the live mice died on the way home. I think it was the way the petstore packed them in the brown bag...

Anyway... Once I got home, 2 of my guys took the fresh dead right away...

I think I am going to try to switch to ft again... first though going to feed them fresh dead... then try ft...

[Cam]

I am not sure how old your guy is...
We got our BP at a month old...I was told he would only eat live fuzzy mice.

*I waited 8 days to feed him (let him settle in and get hungry).
*I thawed the mouse in a baggie in warm/hot water.
Set the thawed mouse on top of his enclosure for a half hour...he came out in about 15 minutes searching for it.
*I ran the mouse under hot water (in the baggie) just before 'serving' so it was not too hot but enough to give the heat effect of a live mouse.

*Using 10 inch feeding tongs pick the mouse up by the scruff (back of the neck).
*Place the dangling mouse about 6 inches from the BP and let him come to it...give a little wiggle of the mouse.

Our guy struck and ate immediately. Now (6 feedings later I can get him to track it, wiggle and drop the mouse and he will strike and eat.)
But if I just lay the mouse in there he will sit and wait for it to move (last time I tried he waited for an hour!)

If you go to 8Ball Pythons he has a tutorial
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl9jq...eature=related
..that is where i got the information for us to try...best of luck!

[derrabe]

my guys are are just about a year old and I tried f/t pinkies with limited success so I switched to live small mice and they eat every time. But after seeing some horror stories and other things about live rats I am terrified that my snakes might get hurt.

[Cam]

I am a worrier too
I have heard from several people that the BP do not take to the f/t pinkies...not sure the reason...maybe it is just a timing issue.

Best of luck...let us know how it goes.

[Argentra]

I was told a big key is warmth of the prey. You have to make sure to heat it up, with warm water on the bag as Cam stated, or with a hair dryer as I do, RIGHT before offering it.

Worked last night with my big girl, now I'll try it next week with my other adult girl.

[Kathleen]

I switched Freddie to F/T without a hitch by thawing the mouse in hot water for about 15 minutes, drying it thoroughly with a blow dryer (and making a point to heat the head), then lying it under a heat lamp for extra overall warmth. I did the "zombie dance" thing for quite a while (upwards of 25 minutes) and then dropped the mouse for a break. That's when he ate; didn't even strike or coil, just started to swallow.

Good luck!