2nd failed attempt at feeding frozen... suggestions?

I feed f/t and I put the mouse in a ziploc in one of those food tote things filled with hot tap water for 15 minutes and then put the heat lamp on him on top of Furio's feeding enclosure and he comes right out, I dangle it for a minute or so and BAM!

Happy Snakey :)

Hope this helps in some way if you try f/t again.

how i switched my snakes was i offered them the food, if they didnt take i would offer next week, and i would repeat. until they got hungry enough to eat.

most fed by week 3.
and now that i think about it.
it was kinda cruel lol

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Originally Posted by icygirl

I have been considering it. I am just not sure which is the right step to take. Also, I've never killed a live mouse before, and am unsure about it. The paper bag whack method seems more detached than, for example, cutting the spinal cord at the neck. What would you suggest seeing as I don't have a CO2 chamber?

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I've only ever used a chamber. You can make one somewhat cheap using paintball co2 tanks and what not. I bummed one off a friend that was into paintball, so it was pretty easy. Never tried the other ways.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I do understand your wish to feed f/t however I always recommend anyone to feed the same type prey for at least 4 to 6 feedings before attempting any switch.

Remember that changing environment is stressful for a BP, and keeping one thing constant (like feeding) is always a good idea.

Get him to eat for you first, make sure he eats with consistency for you and than try to switch him.

Your priority is to get him to eat for you first and foremost, switching is secondary.

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I agree, established animals can be switched much easier than a new addition who is still transitioning.

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Originally Posted by icygirl

This Monday, I tried again offering a frozen mouse to Luke (whose last meal was a live mouse, on 4/11/08, according to his breeder). He had refused it last week, but I also botched the introduction (this thread). This time around I decided to do it right. I let the mouse thaw on top of his enclosure for a while (there are holes drilled in the lid), then further warmed it up with a heat lamp. (Prescenting.) I'm positive that he could smell it - heck I could smell it after it thawed, and I'm only human. All through this process Luke did not budge from his hide. Mind you he is also particularly sensitive to lights being on or off, and I made sure it was dark in the room. After it thawed completely and was a bit warm, I dropped the mouse in outside his hide (NOT right up in his face :oops:), and still nothing. Left it in overnight, and he did not take.

I forgot how frustrating it can be when they don't eat.

My other snakes are going to eat on Thursday, but I may wait a bit longer before offering again to Luke.

Is it possible that I could keep offering frozen for months and he would never take them? I know he's hungry as I have caught him roaming around at night a few times. How much more time should I not be worried about his not eating, until it is considered unhealthy and I should just go ahead and do live?

Also, I appreciate everyone who answered on my last post - you all are a great help. :)

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Is there a reason you are refusing to feed live? I'm sure it's posted here already, just havent' read it all yet.

Edit: I read one of your other questions. PRE-SCENT is critical. Once they start poking their heads out, I throw a mouse in, they take it and I leave the room. When I come back, they've eaten and gone back into their hides. The second mouse, I dangle by hand right outside their hide until I see a head poke out. Then I pullt he mouse back a little and let him go. Successful feeding, everytime.

Don't forget to pre-scent with live too if that's how you decide to go.

Everyone please note, I explained that I did pre-scent with the thawed mouse, but it was a no go. I will definitely be pre-scenting with the live one as well, which will hopefully go better. I haven't forgotten about that!

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Originally Posted by Skoalbasher

Is there a reason you are refusing to feed live? I'm sure it's posted here already, just havent' read it all yet.

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I want all my snakes on frozen, ideally, because it is easiest for me. I prefer to store a lot of frozen rodents rather than care for live ones - plus live rodents would not be welcome at my home, nor in my new apartment (okay, so technically no pets are allowed, but live rodents smell more than snakes do and I don't want to get caught). Thus if I feed live, it means I need to go to the pet store every week to get a mouse, and it is slightly more expensive that way.

Once again I am not morally against live feeding, and I am not refusing to feed live. I just wanted to switch Luke over to frozen, and I guess I was going about it wrong. I will be offering live for the next couple feedings and then I will attempt with frozen again. I will let you know how it goes.

Again, does anyone have suggestions for HOW I should feed live, exactly? E.g., should I dangle the mouse by the scruff on tongs, or should I just release it into the enclosure (supervised)?

I recently got my first ball python, I feed only FT coz I live in the UK...left it a couple of weeks after getting her to attempt the first feed - thawed the mouse, heated using hair dryer - no interest at all. Tried this again a week later, nothing, then another week, nothing again.

After reading some good advise, i defrosted a mouse, left it for 12 hours, re-froze it again, then defrosted and heated with a hair drier...2 seconds in the feeding tub and she had struck and coiled, she ate it straight away. She has done this over and over again - never fails.

Apparently the refreezing breaks down the mouse's cell membranes and makes it easier for the snake to scent...does comprimise the protein content but I feed every 5 days to ensure she gets all the food she needs.

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Originally Posted by icygirl

I want all my snakes on frozen, ideally, because it is easiest for me. I prefer to store a lot of frozen rodents rather than care for live ones - plus live rodents would not be welcome at my home, nor in my new apartment (okay, so technically no pets are allowed, but live rodents smell more than snakes do and I don't want to get caught). Thus if I feed live, it means I need to go to the pet store every week to get a mouse, and it is slightly more expensive that way.

Once again I am not morally against live feeding, and I am not refusing to feed live. I just wanted to switch Luke over to frozen, and I guess I was going about it wrong. I will be offering live for the next couple feedings and then I will attempt with frozen again. I will let you know how it goes.

Again, does anyone have suggestions for HOW I should feed live, exactly? E.g., should I dangle the mouse by the scruff on tongs, or should I just release it into the enclosure (supervised)?

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when i feed live, i put the mouse in the enclosure (still in the 'take home' box from the store) for about 10 minutes to prescent. Usually in that time my bp comes out and is hunting. then i open the boxx and gently dump the mouse into the enclosure, outside the hide my bp is in. It sniffs around for a minute or so and as soon as it gets within range for my bp to strike, the deed is done. I like doing it this way because the mouse is relatively calm and is not expecting anything, which means it is less likely to bite, in my opinion.