Preparing for first snake and had some questions.

[Craiga 01453]

I personally advise new keepers to let their snake get three consecutive meals without refusal before handling. I know it seems like a long time, but big picture: you've got 25 years or more with the snake.

As for feeding, that's really up to you. If you want to feed on Wednesdays, I would try this Wed night. Can't hurt. Either the snake eats, or refuses. Either way, wait til the following Wed to offer again. Feed an appropriately sized prey item weekly and your snake will be fine. No need to rush their growth.

[hilabeans]

I will be getting tub set up tomorrow and holdin off to have him shipped u til Monday. I will take those 5 days to make sure everything is set ups while monitoring temps humidity. Have a single tub inside enclosed single rack (tgr rack)with thermostat and heat tape. Going to keep him in the freedom breeder 10 until he gets large enough to move to animal plastics t8. I’ve been doing A LOT of research on husbandry so I’ll be prepared when he gets here.

and I will make sure to post lots of pictures!

THIS ^ is so refreshing. Sadly, you're one of the few newbies we see around here who does it the right way. Props to you for your homework and preparedness - you will be rewarded with a wonderful new snake experience, I have no doubt!

[Jmarshall]

Yah.. I think it’s irresponsible for anyone to take care of any animal unless it is done the right way. I do have another question. I believe he is on live and want to switch to F/T eventually. How many meals should I get in him before offering F/T. From what I’ve read my priority should be to get him eating so I was thinking live for the first month or so.

[WhompingWillow]

Yah.. I think it’s irresponsible for anyone to take care of any animal unless it is done the right way. I do have another question. I believe he is on live and want to switch to F/T eventually. How many meals should I get in him before offering F/T. From what I’ve read my priority should be to get him eating so I was thinking live for the first month or so.

It's generally conventional advice to offer whatever the snake was eating previously (live vs F/T, mouse vs. rat). However, it's definitely possible to get a BP transitioned to F/T right away.

We have 4 hatchling/juvenile BPs, all of which were on live at their breeders, but they all have taken F/T no problem. We lucked out and never even had to offer live. (Our young Dumeril's, who are notorious for being finicky, was also on live and switched to F/T right away.)

The way we're approaching it is to get F/T established before offering rats, since all our BPs were on mice when we got them. So far we've only changed one to rat pups, and she did great with the change. ��

There are a ton of good resources on this site for offering F/T, but generally what we do is: place feeder in Ziploc baggie and thaw in warm water; once thawed warm under heat lamp in snake room; blast nose with hair dryer before offering to snake on tongs. Works like a charm to the point where most of the snakes come out and wait for their turn.

Anyway, it's great that you're willing to offer live if needed, and I certainly have no judgement if you do go that route. Just wanted to say it's definitely possible to just get started with F/T right away, especially with the younger ones.

[Jmarshall]

Awesome. Yah I would definitely go F/T for both my comfort and snakes safety but if I need to start on live I am willing to go that route. His last meal was a prekilled small adult mouse so hopefully he will make transition to FT easily. Should have his tub set up fully tomorrow so I can start to monitor temps. I’m getting excited!