What is the best way to switch from live to f/t?

Alright I just want to make clear that I am not asking what is better, I know that debate can go on for ages lol
So, what I am asking, is what is the best way to switch your BP from live to f/t? The snake I am getting Thursday is being fed live hoppers now, and it is just a juvenile. (not sure of the weight). But I would like to switch it to f/t because it is cheaper, and honestly I just couldn't dump a helpless mouse into the cage and have to watch it get eaten, sorry. I have heard to slowly go from live, to pre killed, then to f/t. Is this the best way? Or have any of you had snakes take a mouse no matter what? Just some help would be nice with this. Thanks a tons guys.

I'm in the same boat brother, just got my butter today :) and while I'm wait a few days before feeding, he has been on live. So we will see how the switch goes.

The best way that I have found it to gradually switch them over. start with live, and after 2 successful feedings in a row you can try fresh killed. after 2 successful feedings in a row on fresh killed you can try F/T

Aaron, I've heard lots of different methods of pre killing a mouse, how would you do it?

CO2 is my preferred method, it is painless and the most humane

Yeah I have heard of CO2 being the best way. I'll have to check to see if my work has a CO2 chamber. ( i work at a pet supplies plus ) Thanks a ton man.

My little Lemon Blast was struggling to switch over to f/t, until I tried braining. Try poking a hole through the skull of the dead rat to let a little fluid ooze out. My LB hasn't missed a meal since I started doing this.

How do you usually poke the hole in the mouse?

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

How do you usually poke the hole in the mouse?

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I just take a sharp knife and poke one or two small holes a little above the eyes. Doesn't have to be gruesome or gory, just enough to let a little fluid out.

Hate to say it cause I know they are going to see this post and make me eat my words. But all my live eaters switch without an issue I just offered F/T after a week and bam they all ate it. Just do a good Zombie dance and make sure they are heated to 100F or so :rolleyes:

Alright I'll give that a shot :gj:

Some will go straight to F/T, and some won't it all depends on the individual BP

Yeah I had a feeling it all depended on the individual snake. Fingers crossed mine will take F/T the FIRST TIME lol :P

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

Yeah I have heard of CO2 being the best way. I'll have to check to see if my work has a CO2 chamber. ( i work at a pet supplies plus ) Thanks a ton man.

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I seriously doubt that they will have a chamber, but they are fairly easy to make.

This works nicely: http://www.rodentracks.com/DIY_Co2_Chamber.html

As does this: http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forum...2-chamber.html

I've completed the swich over 7 times now, and if all goes according to plan, will be working on number 8 after this weekend.

As with most things, I alwasy try and go from simple to hard:

1) Just thaw, heat with hair dryer and toss it in...about half the time this actually works.

1A) Pre-scent the room by thawing near the enclosure.

1B) Leave it in the enclosure over night.

2) Dangle from tongs with a little movement.

3) Full on Zombie Dance.

4) Scent with tuna juice.

5) Brain the rat.

6) A combo of any of the above tricks.

i found the best way for me and the creapiest is ziploc vacum bags just pump out the air and that it, very humane and quick. my BP is having troubles with fresh kill or frozen, but my red tail she'll eat fresh kill and the BP left overs, some times it just up to the snake on want it likes to eat.

I have probably heard the most success stories with using the braining trick...Also if you skip a meal and wait 2 week your snake will be hungrier. Thaw out the rat in the same room so the snake can smell it. Then try the braining thing and offer it.

I just made the switch over mainly due to an influx of mouths to feed (I went from 2 mouths to 10 in about 2 months). I found it easiest to first get them to take live from forceps, then take prekilled from forceps. When i finally put them all on f/t they took them from forceps with ease.

I do have two picky eaters, and if they will not take from the forceps i usually just leave it (the f/t rat, not live) in their tub and they take it during the night.

Just do it! (as NIKE would say) lol... My BP was on live before I got him. I offered a f/t and he grabbed it in less than 30 seconds! He has been eating f/t ever since...

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Originally Posted by Spyderco1116

My BP was on live before I got him. I offered a f/t and he grabbed it in less than 30 seconds! He has been eating f/t ever since...

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May they all be that easy...

Many are not.

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Originally Posted by Slim

May they all be that easy...

Many are not.

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Understood, but you have to try it first. It may work like it did on mine. If I didn't try it I would have never known. See what I'm saying? :gj:

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Originally Posted by Spyderco1116

Understood, but you have to try it first. See what I'm saying? :gj:

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Why yes I do....

Posted toward the bottom of page two if this thread...

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Originally Posted by Slim

As with most things, I always try and go from simple to hard:

1) Just thaw, heat with hair dryer and toss it in...about half the time this actually works.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Why yes I do....

Posted toward the bottom of page two if this thread...

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Yeah, that's good and all, but I wouldn't just toss it in (thats just my opinion) They may wanna try the whole danggling routine to try and get the ball interested. And yes, simple first, I agree! :gj:

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Originally Posted by Spyderco1116

They may wanna try the whole danggling routine to try and get the ball interested

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Yeah, that was step number 2, in case you didn't have time to go back and read my whole post :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

The best way that I have found it to gradually switch them over. start with live, and after 2 successful feedings in a row you can try fresh killed. after 2 successful feedings in a row on fresh killed you can try F/T

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This is how I do it.

Sadly, none of these things work for me. All of mine just either ignore it or seem bothered by it.

I'll just stick to what works for me: Live.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Yeah, that was step number 2, in case you didn't have time to go back and read my whole post :rolleyes:

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Yeah you're right. :ohmygod: I have a habit of doing that sometimes. Anyway... how's the weather over there? :P

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Originally Posted by Spyderco1116

Yeah you're right. :ohmygod: I have a habit of doing that sometimes. Anyway... how's the weather over there? :P

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Right now it's raining so hard that I expect to see animals walking two by two...:rofl:

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Originally Posted by Slim

Right now it's raining so hard that I expect to see animals walking two by two...:rofl:

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:rofl: pop open an umbrella and go "dancing in the rain"... :P

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Originally Posted by Spyderco1116

:rofl: pop open an umbrella and go "dancing in the rain"... :P

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Or is it singing in the rain? I think its singing.. hehe

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Originally Posted by Slim

I've completed the swich over 7 times now, and if all goes according to plan, will be working on number 8 after this weekend.

As with most things, I alwasy try and go from simple to hard:

1) Just thaw, heat with hair dryer and toss it in...about half the time this actually works.

1A) Pre-scent the room by thawing near the enclosure.

1B) Leave it in the enclosure over night.

2) Dangle from tongs with a little movement.

3) Full on Zombie Dance.

4) Scent with tuna juice.

5) Brain the rat.

6) A combo of any of the above tricks.

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Have you actually used the tuna juice method? I've heard this idea a few times but never encountered anyone who's used it with success.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by KatStoverReptiles

Have you actually used the tuna juice method?

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One time with a GF's female BP. The tuna juice combined with feeding her in the dark actually worked.

If you are just getting the snake I would wait to really try switching it to f/t until after it has had a chance to settle in to its new home. You can try a couple times, but don't stress the snake out too much, just feed it what it's used to for a while. Once the snake is settled in and it's still not taking f/t, don't offer it anything but f/t 1 time a week for several weeks. Some give in fairly easy after 1 or 2 weeks, some are really stubborn, or never switch over.