Switching from live to f/t help!

I've had my Ball Python for a year and when I bought her, she was about 1 or 2 years old already and she was fed live mice. Since I've had her, I've also fed her live, but she's taking small rats every 7-14 days now. I want to switch over to f/t since it's cheaper (I pay $5.99 for a live small rat every week) so I was wondering how would I go about switching over? Any help would be appreciated!

Oh God I am having that problem as well,I worry because there is only one place near me with live rats/mice feeders,I have two that will only eat live,a hatchling and a big male,both will starve before they eat f/t,what if the store runs out,I plan on breeding because of them.My other seven will eat anything,in that sense I'm lucky,they ALL love to eat.

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One word in the BP world.... Patients! and well two words Persistence. Once your on the overall RAT its a simple switch usually its hard to go from Live mice to FT Rats.. but since on rats, The switch should be simple... just buy 1 thaw it. Warm its head up a lil more (dont submerge rat in water use a bag so it stays dry) then zombie walk it. And boom done!

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Originally Posted by suepatt22

I pay $5.99 for a live small rat every week...

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Switch or not but I would find a different rat supplier ASAP!

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Switch or not but I would find a different rat supplier ASAP!

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100% Try looking for a Local rat breeder or wholesaler, and you can give small-med live for about 1-1.50 (mind you thats bulk cost) even still you'd ma out at $2 or $3

I know for some people this is not an option but in my opinion the best way to switch from live rats to f/t rats is to use a "bridge" every trouble snake I have had to convert got a few "fresh" pre-killed rats first. pre-killing the rat can be done a multitude of ways the easiest would be one of the many d-i-y gas chambers on here. After about 2-3 prekilled meals try the f/t rat should be much easier to do

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Seems like you are underfeeding a bit.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Switch or not but I would find a different rat supplier ASAP!

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Originally Posted by CORBIN911

100% Try looking for a Local rat breeder or wholesaler, and you can give small-med live for about 1-1.50 (mind you thats bulk cost) even still you'd ma out at $2 or $3

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I honestly don't know where to find a new supplier! I might look around on craigslist or something, if f/t doesn't work out for my snake.

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Originally Posted by cedor

I know for some people this is not an option but in my opinion the best way to switch from live rats to f/t rats is to use a "bridge" every trouble snake I have had to convert got a few "fresh" pre-killed rats first. pre-killing the rat can be done a multitude of ways the easiest would be one of the many d-i-y gas chambers on here. After about 2-3 prekilled meals try the f/t rat should be much easier to do

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Thanks for your input! But I don't think I would be able to do that :(

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Originally Posted by h20hunter

Seems like you are underfeeding a bit.

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I actually tried feeding my snake medium sized rats, but she wouldn't take for about a month, and when I went back to small rats, she started eating again, so that's pretty much the only reason I'm sticking to small.

Well if you do go the f/t route I'd order them from Big Cheese Rodent Factory. They have a $25 flat rate shipping sale going on so you could order small rats from them. They are the best in my opinion. Also your not underfeeding at all. Small rats are a perfect meal for your girl.


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Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

Well if you do go the f/t route I'd order them from Big Cheese Rodent Factory. They have a $25 flat rate shipping sale going on so you could order small rats from them. They are the best in my opinion. Also your not underfeeding at all. Small rats are a perfect meal for your girl.

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I just checked them out, thanks so much! I noticed they come in packs of 15... I think I might get a frozen rat from petco and see how that works out before I actually spend $18

You can try a couple things. I would first try rubbing the f/t in some tuna, idk why snakes like the smell, but they do. If that doesn't work, try "Head splitting" the f/t. it can be qute grotesque but it works, just look up how to do it online.

Just yesterday I had some success with this. I used to just dangle the mouse/rat by the tail. Then I got a tip about the " zombie mouse dance" basically you pinch the scruff of the animals neck and walk it on the ground doing your best to mimmick a real mouse.

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Originally Posted by kylearmbar

Just yesterday I had some success with this. I used to just dangle the mouse/rat by the tail. Then I got a tip about the " zombie mouse dance" basically you pinch the scruff of the animals neck and walk it on the ground doing your best to mimmick a real mouse.

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Do you keep doing that until your snake strikes? Or do that until he/she is interested?

I usually do it for a couple minutes, what really gets them to strike is when you pretend to go face to face with the snake to " smell" it, like a lot of rodents do when you feed live. But walk it around for awhile first and if it doesn't go for, it shaking always helps. Also try going to bring it to a corner then coming back. Just act like a mouse as much possible. If you snakes hides its face, you'll probably have to try again next feeding.




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Originally Posted by suepatt22

I honestly don't know where to find a new supplier! I might look around on craigslist or something, if f/t doesn't work out for my snake.

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If you are on FB join a few local or WA-state reptile forums and ask who sells them in your area.