Tips***

[ohkid918]

I need tips on how to switch a young bp from live mice to pre-killed!! PLEASE, my only idea is to hold off 2 weeks until hes hungry, but im not sure if thats good for him, with him being young. thanks

[mainbutter]

If his husbandry is good(check caresheets) and he has been shedding well, not sick, eating well on live, not refusing food the past few feedings, not stressed, and basically a happy healthy ball python, just try feeding prekilled.

Get yourself some tongs or hemostats(keep your fingers safe) to hold the appropriately sized rodent, and try to feed it to your snake. Just hold it in front of your snake, so the snake can see and eventually smell the food item. DON'T bonk the snake on the snout, I've seen people do it and it's ridiculous.

My BP usually takes a P/K F/T mouse after 5-30 seconds, depending on how aggressive she feels at the time.

Again, if the snake is happy and healthy, just try it once, no need to let the snake go without eating for longer than usual. Stopping to feed may in fact make the snake less likely to feed next time you try, especially if you are switching food items.

[Clyde Frog]

To switch from live to f/t, I found this on some website a while ago. Hope this helps.

"First I got the frozen mouse and put it into a zip lock bag and submerged it under hot water for a couple hours for it to get thawed out. Then I got some paper napkins and laid the mouse out on it. I took a hair dryer and went over the mouse until it got fairly warm as a live mouse would be. Then I took a pair of tongs and moved the mouse around a little and bam she ate it right up like a live mouse."