..well, I'm going to feed my baby for the first time.

[drucebennedict]

I got my very first ball python a week ago and today I'm going to try to give feeding a try. First, I was wondering what time would be best to feed. As of now, where I live, it's 1:10 PM. Does the time of feeding matter? I'm planning on waiting until 5:30 or 6:00 to feed. Also, should I use the tongs or just drop in the mouse? [I've heard of people doing both, but I dunno which is best.]

[joshn6805]

I would wait till nightime and give the room a real nice pre scent so she is alert and smells dinner. I would use the tongs and do a little rat dance in front of her, never failed me when I did f/t.

[DustinB]

To start you might feed around 6 or 7, once it gets dark a BP starts becoming active and is more likely to eat. If it's the first feeding just drop it in front of it's hide about 6 inches and walk away. Come back later to see if it was eaten. The BP may be shy and not eat if you stay.

[Hock3ymonk3y]

time doesnt matter for my bp... hes always hungry lol, but if you have a picky eater it might be best to feed later in the day
it depends if you are feeding f/t or live... if f/t use tongs, if live it might be best IMO to just drop it in there...

hope this helps,

[stinker2009]

I had my first feeding on Sunday. I got a live hopper mouse for a 7 week old (prob gonna move up to adult mouse this week) and put the mouse in a little tupperware container that had some holes soldered in it. I placed the tupperware container above the snake cage and let it set there from 7-7:30. (I would have liked to have done an hour but I had to leave soon) I have her night cycle set to start at 9 pm but I went ahead and turned off all the lights in the room at 7, as she is a lot more active during the evening. At 7:30 I dropped the mouse in the cage. It walked around for about 15 seconds and for eventually stopped an inch outside of the hide my ball python was sitting in. WHACK! It all went so quick. After she made the kill I left her alone and returned two hours later. No mouse, only one satisfied snake.

[drucebennedict]

I'm using live since its readily available and I was informed that its what she usually consumes. =3 So..for live, dropping it in is best? Is there a limit to how long I should pre-scent for? [like, would more than an half an hour be too long?]
thanks for the answers. ^^;

[stinker2009]

A lot of people like using the tongs to hold down the feeders so they wont have a chance at striking the snake, but with the size of the feeder you are probably giving you should be ok. Just dont hold the mouse down with your hand or you could get a nice little love tap from your bp. And I dont know about over scenting but the general consensus seems to be a half hour. But I'm sure your bp will still be interested after two lol.

[joshn6805]

Theres no limit for the pre scent, just drop it in there and wait for the strike. after the strike be sure your snake has the head secured if it doesnt I hold the head with tongs untill its dead so it does no harm to my snake.

[piper]

I got my very first ball python a week ago and today I'm going to try to give feeding a try. First, I was wondering what time would be best to feed. As of now, where I live, it's 1:10 PM. Does the time of feeding matter? I'm planning on waiting until 5:30 or 6:00 to feed. Also, should I use the tongs or just drop in the mouse? [I've heard of people doing both, but I dunno which is best.]

I only feed F/T but I will give you my personal experience with it.. For me, some snakes don't need the mouse/rat/asf to move at all, all it takes is the scent, some won't even look at it! J prescent the room first! Leave the rodent(if its live), next to the aquarium/tub for about an hour or if it's f/t, thaw it out on top of the tub/aquarium.. I usually thaw it out for 15 minutes or so, fill more hot water and let it sit for another 10-15 minutes, than I run it under hot water for about 5 minutes, focusing more on the head of the rodent because it's a target for the snake! But make sure you are still warming up the rest of it as well. (FYI, I thaw them out in ziplock/dollar store sandwhich bags) Just grab whatever it is you are feeding to your ball, move slowly, no quick movements because you don't want to startle him/her, turn off as many lights as possible, you still want to be able to see. If the snake is still hiding, you can try to take the hide off and try the feeding, may scare them, may not!

I'd wait til late evening to start getting all of the above ready.. If you feed live, well, I guess I just wasted some time, but it's ok because I'm at work! hahah

If it's live, drop it in or you can hold it with the tongs Make sure you assist the feeding, watch the snake because you don't want the rodent biting the snake.

[luna13]

i have heard people say at night time, although my baby bp eats anytime i put one in front of her