Can you use all frozen rodents for balls?

I'm new to the ball python thing and want to get some input.

Does anyone use just frozen rodents? How big of a pain would that be?

Thanks,

Chris

A lot of people only feed frozen, it is great if you snake will eat them.
I have a couple that wouldnt switch so everyone gets live, so much easier for me and if not eaten they go back into the rat rack.:gj:

I feed only frozen for all of my reptiles (except crickets). I feed live only if I have to, like for a stubborn baby or something. It's not a pain at all, I actually find it much easier. All I have to do is thaw them out, heat them up and drop them in. I don't have to worry about injuries or anything. I can leave them in overnight and they are usually gone by morning. It's also cheaper than buying live, unless you breed your own. Good luck!

Leah

I feed all frozen. But I also do that for a reason haha there are no rat breeders within a couple hours from here and I'm NOT buying that many from the store lol so yeah I make a bulk order that lasts a couple weeks

I used to feed F/T exclusively until I reach a certain number of snakes, with a growing number I find it less convenient and a hassle.

So it really depends on the size of your collection and at what number you will consider it a hassle.

frozen is way cheaper too, instead of 4 dollars+ for a rat, try 1.25, or even less if you order in bulk!

I find frozen easier. If you don't breed rats, it's a pain to deal with a live one if you have a stubborn feeder/only one or two snakes and had no plans of owning a pet rat!

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Originally Posted by purplemuffin

frozen is way cheaper too, instead of 4 dollars+ for a rat, try 1.25, or even less if you order in bulk!

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I pay .50 a rat for weaned and under, and $1.00 a rat for larger from a private breeder in my area ;)

I've never started hatchlings, but all the BPs I've ever had have only been fed F/T. I've switched between mice and rats without issues either.

Especially with a small collection, small clutches and (for the adults) smaller individual feeders than for big adult carpet pythons make F/T feeding a breeze. If I had 5 ball python clutches in a year, you bet that I'd still stick to F/T. If I had 5 carpet python clutches in a year, each with the potential to have 100 or more hatchlings, I'd seriously consider breeding rats just because thawing out that many feeders can be a hassle.

Similarly, if I had 20+ female BPs laying clutches year 'round, hungry snakes of various ages and sizes all needing different sized feeders, and I bred my own feeders, I likely wouldn't feed F/T unless I was out of a particular live size.

I'd still likely feed P/K however, cervical dislocation is so simple especially on anything smaller than 50g.

That said, the ever-popular Snakebytestv shows on youtube featuring the goings-on at BHB Reptiles have covered their feeding strategies in the past. They feed large numbers of snakes F/T by thawing mass feeders in buckets. The BPs in their shop are fed live though, I suppose it's a bit of a time saver on a "stereotypically" less enthusiastic predator than their impressive numbers of colubrids.

I guess I really don't know my opinion on it overall, other than the fact that I find my entire collection easier to feed F/T to than the effort needed to raise rodents. I'm sure you'll find out what works for you.

You can use frozen rodents for balls, but they don't bounce very well....

















Feeding? That's all I use. :D

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Originally Posted by wax32

You can use frozen rodents for balls, but they don't bounce very well....

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:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

I feed all my snakes f/t. And all of them but one start as live feeders. I've found that as long as the snakes hungry enough and the thawed rat or mouse is warm enough the snake will eat. A lot of people seem to have issues switching to f/t if you are thinking of doing it I'd thaw them out next to the snakes cage so they get the scent of the rat. This makes them more eager for food, and more likely to take a f/t rodent. Good luck

I feed my three F/T. Its just easier for me. The two BCCs I care for get pre killed rabbits because I can't get them f/t here. I don't think the BCCs care if its f/t, pk, or dancing the tango- they just like food. :)

I recently switched to frozen because of how time consuming breeding rodents was. But, ball pythons are a tough buyer when it comes to f//t. Luckily mine will all eat f/t just not every time. If the snake is hungry it will eat. For ball pythons though it has to be warm and you have to make it look live lol. But, as far as hatchlings, feeding live is a must.

Yeah, I do all frozen except for hatchlings right out of the egg.

If I had the facilities to breed my own rodents maybe I'd feed live. But I don't, so frozen is both cheaper and far more convenient.

I have used frozen for years with no probs. Most of my hatchlings are started on f/t from their first meal

I am gonna try to get all of mine to eat F/T. It's so much cheaper and more convenient if you don't have a good live supplier. I just moved to Texas so I don't know *anyone*. I'm glad I have my breeding stock, otherwise I'd be paying $6 a rat at the pet store.