Switching to thawed food..

I brought my new ball python, Fafnir, home last week. He ate his first thawed mouse on Thursday (he was eating live before) but I had to leave the dead mouse in his hide for almost 24 hours.

Now I'm trying to get him to eat from tongs. I got him to the point where he continously strikes at the mouse, but he dosn't 'finish it off'. After two hours of this he started hissing and curling up, so I left the mouse in his cage and gave up for the night.

Is it normal for some BPs to eat mice left in the tank? Am I doing something wrong?

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Originally Posted by Drakko

I brought my new ball python, Fafnir, home last week. He ate his first thawed mouse on Thursday (he was eating live before) but I had to leave the dead mouse in his hide for almost 24 hours.

Now I'm trying to get him to eat from tongs. I got him to the point where he continously strikes at the mouse, but he dosn't 'finish it off'. After two hours of this he started hissing and curling up, so I left the mouse in his cage and gave up for the night.

Is it normal for some BPs to eat mice left in the tank? Am I doing something wrong?

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Hissing isnt a great sign. As far as I know, snakes do this when scared. You do not want to scare the snake with a food item as this can condition them to not take the item at all. You are supposed to dangle lightly, and if it doesnt take you can lie it with them for 30-40 mins (or overnight if you wish--> if its in the tank). If the food item is not eaten, try again on your next regular feeding.

It's okay to leave it in there (but only if it's f/t)--my female won't take it off tongs but she'll eat it if left overnight. Just check it in the morning to make sure it's gone and that's all you gotta do. I actually find that easier.

All of them have different preferences, my boy won't touch it if I don't heat it up and do the zombie dance so to each their own. As long as he eats it, it's fine. =)

You know. Out of all the balls iv had that would not take it off tongs, eventually did.

What i would do is offer it on tongs. If they didnt eat after trying the tongs (dont over try tho lol) i would leave it in there. Eventually they werent such shy feeders and would take em off the tongs.

Try to offer on tongs for maybe like a min or 2. Doing it for 2 hours you probably scared the living crap out of the little guy. If they dont take it... Leave it in there.

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my boy won't touch it if I don't heat it up and do the zombie dance

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LOL I love that description of dangling f/t as

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the zombie dance

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:taz:

He ate when I left the mouse in overnight. I guess he's just too shy (for now anyway). Thanks guys!

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Originally Posted by Drakko

He ate when I left the mouse in overnight. I guess he's just too shy (for now anyway). Thanks guys!

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good to hear. Just keep trying for a minute or two and hopefully he will in a few feeds. G'luck

transition with hatchlings if done right will be easy. Adults how ever dont switch hardly ever once on live as they imprint.


with hatchlings i offer live for 5 meals, then offer pre killed for 3 meals, after pre killed i offer f/t and this gradual step for me is 100% successful.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

transition with hatchlings if done right will be easy. Adults how ever dont switch hardly ever once on live as they imprint.


with hatchlings i offer live for 5 meals, then offer pre killed for 3 meals, after pre killed i offer f/t and this gradual step for me is 100% successful.

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This sounds like a really good method.

Its like weaning a baby from a bottle :gj: