F/T Switcheroo

Hey All,

I've spent the entire time I've owned one of my females trying to switch her over from live mice to F/T rats. She usually takes 2-3 adult mice every feeding.

Today I was watching BHB's feeding video and I noticed that some of the snakes were offered one prey item first and then during their coiling they had a 2nd prey item placed in the coils father down.

Has anyone tried this in an attempt to switch from live to f/t, mice to rats etc.?

I'm thinking of offering my snake one live mouse and then trying to sneak in a small rat when she's coiling.

Not that I mind feeding her mice but I can't deny that F/T would be more convenient seeing as how everyone else is on it.

Anyone try this before?

have you tried the switch yet?
I technically switched my girl to f/t. She was fed only large live mice at the breeder's, and when I got her, I tried to be consistent. I used a slightly small f/t mouse, and got it all warmed up, and then did the zombie dance.
It's usually best to not change a lot of things at once. So if you do want to switch to f/t you should probably at least keep the same species/size, or maybe even a little smaller. Feeding a small live item first I've heard can work well too. Especially if you're currently feeding multiple items anyway.
How old is she? The young'uns apparently switch easier.

Once you get her onto f/t mice, it might be easier to get her to rats if you still want to

She's an 05 that I've been trying to switch for probably the last year unsuccessfully. I tried every trick in the book with no succuess; today I watched Brians video and the light bulb went on. Its worth a shot I guess, I've tried everything else already; worst comes to worst I'll just keep feeding her live. I'll give an update after I try it.

well good luck!

I have had to do the switcheroo on stubborn BP's but I do it differently. I put in the live prey item and use a FT prey item in the tongs to keep the live prey item away from the BP...as if I'm a goaly separating the BP from the live item with the FT item as my hocky stick. I also make sure the FT is warmer than the prey item. The BP sees the live prey but then hits the FT prey out of confusion. After two times like this they will hit the FT without seeing the live prey at all.

JonV

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

She's an 05 that I've been trying to switch for probably the last year unsuccessfully. I tried every trick in the book with no succuess; today I watched Brians video and the light bulb went on. Its worth a shot I guess, I've tried everything else already; worst comes to worst I'll just keep feeding her live. I'll give an update after I try it.

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I was thinking of doing the same thing as I have the exact same issues with tyring to convert my normal to f/t. I am very interested in your results. I was going to try waiting until after the live was swallowed then moving in with the f/t. Can you post a link to this video you are talking about? Thanks.

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Originally Posted by nevohraalnavnoj

I have had to do the switcheroo on stubborn BP's but I do it differently. I put in the live prey item and use a FT prey item in the tongs to keep the live prey item away from the BP...as if I'm a goaly separating the BP from the live item with the FT item as my hocky stick. I also make sure the FT is warmer than the prey item. The BP sees the live prey but then hits the FT prey out of confusion. After two times like this they will hit the FT without seeing the live prey at all.

JonV

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Thanks I'll give that a go first if she's still not interested I'll let her strike the mouse and I'll leave the f/t rat in there with her. We'll see how it goes, she's in shed right now so It'll be a couple days but I'll update with my results.

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Originally Posted by td30

I was thinking of doing the same thing as I have the exact same issues with tyring to convert my normal to f/t. I am very interested in your results. I was going to try waiting until after the live was swallowed then moving in with the f/t. Can you post a link to this video you are talking about? Thanks.

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Here is the thread with the link to the video.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=65149

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

Thanks I'll give that a go first if she's still not interested I'll let her strike the mouse and I'll leave the f/t rat in there with her. We'll see how it goes, she's in shed right now so It'll be a couple days but I'll update with my results.



Here is the thread with the link to the video.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=65149

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Thanks for the link. I think I am going to try it tomorrow night. I will keep you you posted. I tried JonV's method without success:(. I had the live in there and was blocking it with a screen. She wanted to climb right over the f/t to get through that screen.

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Originally Posted by td30

Thanks for the link. I think I am going to try it tomorrow night. I will keep you you posted. I tried JonV's method without success:(. I had the live in there and was blocking it with a screen. She wanted to climb right over the f/t to get through that screen.

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Ha! Smart snake :-) I literally let the live run around in there and act as the goaly myself...it's tricky, cuz you gotta move fast! :-)

JonV