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Need All F/T tricks

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  • 03-07-2010, 08:24 PM
    PolishPython
    Need All F/T tricks
    Ok I need All of your Tricks on how to switch from Live to F/T. Tried about 6 months ago but wasnt too persistent. So give me ALLL the Tips and Tricks.
  • 03-07-2010, 08:27 PM
    2kdime
    Re: Need All F/T tricks
    I let mine thaw out at herp room temp (80f) all day

    Then hit their heads with a hair dryer for a good 10 to 20 dseconds and then feed immediately

    Has been working for me ever since I started doing it.

    Might try feeding P/K first, might make the transition a little easier
  • 03-07-2010, 08:28 PM
    Sarin
    Re: Need All F/T tricks
    I let the rodents thaw in the fridge over night. Then I run their head under really hot tap water for a few minutes... Then serve.
  • 03-07-2010, 09:08 PM
    kjay
    Re: Need All F/T tricks
    all of the above prescent the room and put your ball ina paper bag with the rat over night in its enclosure
  • 03-07-2010, 10:19 PM
    kc261
    Re: Need All F/T tricks
    I've found 2 things really help a lot when feeding f/t. The first is to prescent so the snake knows food is coming and is ready to eat. If it is convenient, you could put a live mouse/rat in the room to prescent, then offer the f/t. That might help with the transition. If not, get some soiled bedding from a pet store. You can use this not only for prescenting the snake, but also to add some fresh scent to the f/t.

    The second is to make sure the f/t rodent is plenty warm, especially the head. After you have thoroughly thawed the prey item, use a hair dryer to get it warmed up. Remember that the normal body temp of a rat or mouse is a few degrees above that of a human. I try to get the entire body of the f/t to what I guess is the right temp, then get the head a few degrees above that.

    Finally, if you really want to convert a snake to f/t, don't be afraid to use some tough love. If it refuses the first time, don't give in and give it live. In my admittedly very limited experience in this, since I usually feed live, most snakes that are usually good feeders will take the f/t after missing a couple of feedings even if they didn't want anything to do with it the first time.
  • 03-07-2010, 10:28 PM
    zantedeschia
    Re: Need All F/T tricks
    Prescent with used mouse litter. Get some from the pet store that carries live mice. They may think your request strange, but they usually will give you some. Mouse turds/urine smell way stronger than a dead mouse, gets the snake in the mood.
  • 03-08-2010, 12:25 AM
    jben
    Re: Need All F/T tricks
    I thaw mines on the flexx watt itself for about 4 hours and then blast the head with the blow dryer for about 15-20 seconds. my 2300+g female will not even look at them.
  • 03-08-2010, 11:08 PM
    Hypnotic Exotic
    Re: Need All F/T tricks
    I learned this from VPI and it worked on some of my most stubborn. Hold the rat by the neck with forceps and put behind the water bowl. Have it "peek" out from behind the water bowl and as soon as the snake flicks it's tong, have it "hide" behind the water bowl. Do this several times until the snake starts to approach and then have it "walk" by the snake and "bam!" it should strike at it. As the others have said, make sure it's warm too.
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