Re: No live fuzzies- Try mice or f/t?
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Originally Posted by Kiramay
It does, thank you. So pretty much its up to me, and then pray she eats.
I am going to assume that fuzzies don't move around much since they're still babies. Right? So, while I had planned to stay with live, now might be a good time to switch to f/t, rather then have my BP get used to chasing her prey, and then try to switch.
Just so you know Balls are ambush predators so they won't "chase" the mouse/rat around (they will follow them but it isn't going to be a cat/mouse chase). But movement is important in them locating the prey...so even with F/T it may be necessary to do the "Rat Zombie" Dance. In which case you need a set of long tongs to "dance" the rat around in front of the snake so it thinks the rat is alive and will then strike, constrict and eat it.
Re: No live fuzzies- Try mice or f/t?
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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki
I see absolutely no signs of behavioral "changes" in the time period after they defecate and before I feed them again ... I can say with 100% certainty that I know each and every one of them well enough to be sure.
-adam
Ignoring the digs, as you seemed to take some sort of offense at the questions, I'll take your word for it on the answer. How often do you feed them? This might actually BE related to the fact that you feed smaller prey items frequently, while I feed slightly larger ones a bit less frequently. It's possible that, as you suggested, your animals aren't really getting hungry.
I think the OP's question has been fairly well answered. Mice and f/t rats are both good choices, and if the python does't accept one, you can always offer the other--it's not crucial to offer an unvarying diet, so the snake doesn't have to wait an unknown length of time for its next meal.
Re: No live fuzzies- Try mice or f/t?
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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion
you seemed to take some sort of offense at the questions
Offense? LOL ... hardly ... If you take the time to look, you'll find that I have been a member here for over 4 years ... and spent that time answering all kinds of questions ... giving my point of view ... never telling people what they should or should not do, but instead sharing my experience, telling people what I do for my animals, and occasionally expressing my belief in and my passion for how I specifically do things ... I've always been an open book and willing to share whenever asked ... anything ... I have a pretty decent reputation around these parts as a result. ;)
Quote:
Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion
I'll take your word for it on the answer.
Well, you certainly don't have to just take my word for it ... If you'd ever like to take a trip and come visit my facility I'd be happy to show you first hand so that you can see with your own eyes.
-adam
Re: No live fuzzies- Try mice or f/t?
[QUOTE=WingedWolfPsion] This might actually BE related to the fact that you feed smaller prey items frequently, while I feed slightly larger ones a bit less frequently. QUOTE]
I feed my male a adult mouse every six days- and a med. rat to my female every six days. Im not sure what everyone else does, but I was told that even if you feed larger pray you still feed the same as when you used to- like every 5, 6, 7 ect. days...
Re: No live fuzzies- Try mice or f/t?
For adult BPs, I feed a medium rat every 7 to 14 days depending on their weight, unless it's the height of the breeding season--I move down to small rats every 7 days. Babies get fed something as big around as they are every 5 days, yearlings every 7 days.
My big females are currently eating a medium rat every 10 days. I'll be pairing them as soon as they're out of quarantine, they're looking great for it in terms of optimal weight and apparent health. I'll be tracking their weight closely, as they don't need to gain or lose any at this point.
How often to feed depends on the size of the prey, and size of the snake--and even on the snake's individual metabolism.
