Switched to F/T with new baby Spider BP... success! (thanks BP.net)

[ericeod]

I just gave my Spider his second meal since I've had him and decided to try a F/T; it was too easy. I took the frozen hopper, placed it (inside a zip lock) in hot water for 5 minutes, hit it with a blow driver and placed it in the separate feeding tub. I placed the Spider inside the tub, closed the lid and watched for 2 minutes. He started showing signs he was on the hunt, got his head near the hopper and struck! I left him alone for the next 5 minutes, came back and he was finished.

I expected it to be a lot much harder than this. This Spider has been such an amazing animal. He doesn't ball up anymore when I pick him up; he cruises around when I take him out and doesn’t hiss/strike ever. And as for the infamous wobble, I can't see its effect on him, so it is so light it isn't even noticeable.

And the best thing, the breeder I got him from has checked in with me 3 times since I've had him just to follow up and see how the animal is doing.

And last, thanks to everyone in the BP community. I've been able to educate myself from many of your threads sharing info, replies to my posts and through your own documented experiences!

[GoBoilers]

LOL! Yeah, I suspect they're easier to transition as babies (when they'll eat everything including the kitchen sink) than as juvis/adults)! My oldest girl was started as a baby on f/t so will eat rodents any which way and backwards (f/t, live, p/k). My boy has always been fed live (my fault for not introducing him to f/t earlier) so I'm now in a stand-off to get him to eat f/t. I'm not going to make the same mistake with the new baby...she's been eating live consistently so I'm going to start introducing her to f/t while she's still a garbage disposal...

[Karbon]

Awesome to hear about your Spider!

I have a male Spider that is almost exactly the same. Eats like a champ, never strikes, hisses or balls up and he loves to explore. He wobbles a bit but it makes it seem like he's got more personality.

He's even lately been coiling around my arm and falling asleep!

Congrats on your Spider (they're hands down my favorite morph) and good to hear you're having success!

[iCandiBallPythons]

Spiders are typically very good eaters

[firemandan26]

Good to hear a success story! I just got a bee and I am about to attempted the same thing. My pastel didn't seem to have much of a problem, but we'll see how she does. Congrats on the spider, and the spider eating. Sounds like you got a good breeder too!

[ericeod]

Thanks everyone. from what I've read (which has been a lot!), Spiders are great eaters and tend to explore. I am picking up a female Bee next month, so now its time to read up on them. I know they carry a lot of the Spider characteristics, I just don't know how much the Spider and Bee are alike.

[theartofsolitude]

i like that blower idea! i would try that on my bee coz he just wont eat ft and i've been trying..