feeding question

I have a 174g bp who has been eating large mice f/t, i really need to get him on rat pups. the pet store that I get my feeders from seems to only have the live rat pups, I was wondering if it would be okay to feed him live until they get the frozen pups in?? IDK? This is his fouth feeding with me and the breeder said he would eat f/t or live. I just don't want to mess him up on his eating habits because he eats like a champ. should I just leave him on the large mouse?

I would never do live if the animal is slamming f/t, thats just me. I would look for a place that carries the right size f/t.

Once you give her live theres a good chance its gunna be a pita to switch her back to f/t. Order the f/t online if you can

It depends on individual animals. I've had a snake that has eaten live, then frozen, then live, then frozen. No problems switching. I say if he has a strong feeding response, don't worry about it. If he's picky, he will let you know.
However, feeding live will increase your chances to switch to rats more easily.

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All of my animals that eat FT will swap back and forth without issues.

Buy a live rat pup. Pre-kill. Feed. Problem solved. ;)

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Originally Posted by satomi325

It depends on individual animals. I've had a snake that has eaten live, then frozen, then live, then frozen. No problems switching. I say if he has a strong feeding response, don't worry about it. If he's picky, he will let you know.
However, feeding live will increase your chances to switch to rats more easily.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

All of my animals that eat FT will swap back and forth without issues.

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Quite a few of my snakes will take f/t no problem although they are primarily live feeders.

Any chance the pet store will freeze a few rat pups for you?

Pick up rat pups, drown them freeze them :) IMO Drowning them is humane better then slamming them into a wall

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Originally Posted by ExotixTowing

Pick up rat pups, drown them freeze them :) IMO Drowning them is humane better then slamming them into a wall

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Then how do you get the water out of the lungs? If you freeze a drowned pup, the water in the lungs are going to freeze as well.

you can get some dry ice to kill them, i have a co2 bottle i use but i put down about 5-25 rats at a time.

CO2 is the way to go for pre-killing a group of rat pups. Drowning and freezing will cause water retention issues.

If your local store can get F/T rat pups, what's wrong with continuing to feed the large mice until they come in? Honestly, we mostly likely overfeed these animals by keeping them on a weekly schedule anyway. It's not going to cause any damage to keep him on mice until the rats show up.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Honestly, we mostly likely overfeed these animals by keeping them on a weekly schedule anyway.

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Glad I'm not the only one who believes this.

Okay guys, thanks for all the answers, i went today and they had no large frozen mice, so I got two little ones. I will end up getting a live one and pre killing it. I have till Saturday night to do this. I know that's not very long away. They did say they would order some frozen rat pups for me. Thanks again for all the answers. I am very new at this only had this bp a month or so I need all help I can get lol

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Originally Posted by satomi325

Then how do you get the water out of the lungs? If you freeze a drowned pup, the water in the lungs are going to freeze as well.

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You don't feed them frozen ;) so water in the lungs will thaw out when you thaw the feeder.

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Originally Posted by ExotixTowing

You don't feed them frozen ;) so water in the lungs will thaw out when you thaw the feeder.

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But then you're feeding a water filled rat

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Originally Posted by satomi325

But then you're feeding a water filled rat

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As long as you don't overheat it and cause it to pop, why is this a bad thing? The BP just gets some extra hydration from his food.