piggy backing question.

Hey Guys,

I have a couple of BP's that won't switch off of ASF no matter what I do. Yesterday I tried the "piggy backing" technique with a live ASF followed by a F/T Norway and it worked! I was wondering, If I continue doing this will I be able to get them to take the F/T Norway without leading it with the live ASF? Does anyone have experience and success with this technique?

For those of you who don't know, piggy backing is when your BP is almost finished swallowing their prey of choice (in my case ASF) and just as the tail is going in you put the Norway in its mouth and hold it while it continues to swallow. Most of the time it will hook into the new prey and continue to swallow.

The reason I don't just feed ASF is that each ASF is costing me $5/per and I have to feed 4 of them to each of my balls... Its turning out to be about $100 a week.. I don't spend that much on groceries for myself.. LOL.

Thanks, :)

I don't remember anyone talking about switching from ASF's to Norwegians. I assume that it won't be easy, since ASF's are the BP's natural prey and are usually used to get picky eaters to feed. One thing that I can think of that might help is one of the techniques used for switching from mice to rats. That would be to try get get some of the soiled ASF bedding and let your Norwegians lay in it for a while before offering them, that way, they will smell like an ASF. Please keep us posted on what you try and what type of results you get...

I didn't have luck with scenting, either by rubbing or bedding. The female switched after laying eggs this year. So far she hasn't refused except when she was getting ready to shed. I hear you on the cost. I did find a guy that was breeding them. When he would have extras, I would buy them for $1. I thought about breeding my own. Good luck.

Thanks guys,

Yeah I've tried pretty much everything. This method I've been using works, I'm just hoping that they start taking the F/T without needing the ASF to lead the way lol. I've been thinking about breeding my own too. When I started feeding ASF it was plentiful here. Adult ASF costed $1.50 - and rats the same size costed $3.00. Now the rats still cost $3.00 but the ASF has more than tippled and NO ONE has any large or jumbos. Its dollars!!

I'll keep you guys updated with this new process. I'll post pictures next feeding.

at those cost I would just start your own colony;)
good luck with the switch, I have a couple that I can feed anything to and they dont care and three that are mice only.:rolleyes:

Scenting worked well for me one time in a test: I rubbed a fuzzy mouse with a rat, and my corn snake didn't eat it. I thawed out a normal smelling fuzzy mouse, she ate it. :P
So they know the difference, or at least she did. :)
I think it's a toss up if your snake will eventually eat the mice on his own. I'd say if he takes them when they are scented like the other type, you've got a good chance he'll eventually take them without scenting. Mind, I've no idea how long that will take. :( But it seems like he would.