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  1. #1
    Registered User Shadowy's Avatar
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    Question Switching to F/T tips?

    So I’ve announced I’m getting a new little guy next week. He’s perfect, but one thing I’m concerned about is he’s been fed live rats since hatching. The breeder claims he’s also fed thawed pinky mice but that just seems weird since he’s already feeding live rats. I’m hoping to get him to take F/T right away, since I’m not comfortable feeding live at all. 1. I worry about injury. 2. I feel bad for the little rats
    Any tips to make this switch easy and quick?
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  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran Avsha531's Avatar
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    Re: Switching to F/T tips?

    I've had much success using a hairdryer to fool the little noodle into thinking the rat is alive. Just hit the defrosted rat with the hairdryer, and I'll typically focus on the head of the rat for around 10 seconds right before offering

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  4. #3
    Registered User Mkelleher's Avatar
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    Re: Switching to F/T tips?

    Quote Originally Posted by Shadowy View Post
    So I’ve announced I’m getting a new little guy next week. He’s perfect, but one thing I’m concerned about is he’s been fed live rats since hatching. The breeder claims he’s also fed thawed pinky mice but that just seems weird since he’s already feeding live rats. I’m hoping to get him to take F/T right away, since I’m not comfortable feeding live at all. 1. I worry about injury. 2. I feel bad for the little rats
    Any tips to make this switch easy and quick?
    Never made the switch myself, but I have read that if you dangle it in front of him and shake it around a little bit (simulating a rat moving around) he should take it, as long as it is as warm as a live rat would be.

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  5. #4
    Registered User Jellybeans's Avatar
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    Re: Switching to F/T tips?

    Yeah, the pinkie thing sounds weird because ball pythons should never be eating pinkies to start with
    He might take right to it, mine went from live to Frozen thawed immediately. That sure is a pretty snake

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  7. #5
    Registered User octo_owl's Avatar
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    Re: Switching to F/T tips?

    My 2 BPs were eating live rats at their respective breeders too. They switched to F/T immediately. I thaw overnight in the fridge, then warm up in a bowl with hot water from the tap until the rats are about 100 degrees (measuring with an infrared thermometer). I keep them in a plastic baggie so they don’t get wet. It usually takes about 30 minutes and I change the water out a couple times. When the rats are warm I put them on the screen tops right next to the CHE domes for about 5 minutes. I come back and check and snakes are out in their hunting position, then I just dangle it in front of them with tongs and they strike within 10 seconds. I think letting them smell it and get ready to hunt really works for mine. Also, of course feed at night and wait at least a week to try the first feeding. Congrats on the new baby!!


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  8. #6
    Bogertophis's Avatar
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    Re: Switching to F/T tips?

    Quote Originally Posted by Shadowy View Post
    So I’ve announced I’m getting a new little guy next week. He’s perfect, but one thing I’m concerned about is he’s been fed live rats since hatching. The breeder claims he’s also fed thawed pinky mice but that just seems weird since he’s already feeding live rats. I’m hoping to get him to take F/T right away, since I’m not comfortable feeding live at all. 1. I worry about injury. 2. I feel bad for the little rats
    Any tips to make this switch easy and quick?
    If you can't get him to take f/t by itself (even with hair-dryer/hot water methods), you might try having a small live "appetizer" (with eyes closed, rats or mice do NOT
    defend themselves ever) & then immediately after that he may go on to accept the f/t while he's still pumped up in "feeding mode". You need feeding tongs, if you don't
    already have them. (even kitchen or BBQ tongs will work, just make sure the tips are rounded for safety)

    Pinky mice ARE too small for a BP...they just get stuck on their teeth... Best of luck, with any luck he just may take f/t, but if you need to offer a live "appetizer" first,
    just be sure it's small so the 2 items together aren't too big of a meal. After a few such blended meals, they learn to recognize the f/t as edible too &
    should accept f/t by itself.
    Last edited by Bogertophis; 04-26-2019 at 05:42 PM.

  9. #7
    BPnet Veteran Godzilla78's Avatar
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    Re: Switching to F/T tips?

    In my experience, the hairdryer trick only works if you get the rat really warm, all the way through.
    Also, stay out of the picture as mich as possible, so the snake doesn’t focus on you as a predator, so it can focus on its prey.

  10. #8
    BPnet Royalty Zincubus's Avatar
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    Re: Switching to F/T tips?

    Quote Originally Posted by Godzilla78 View Post
    In my experience, the hairdryer trick only works if you get the rat really warm, all the way through.
    Also, stay out of the picture as mich as possible, so the snake doesn’t focus on you as a predator, so it can focus on its prey.
    It just has to be done properly tbh
    By all means thaw as usual but then I feed evenings only and wait until the snake is settled under a hide then , with dim / low lighting , oh and have the hairdryer plugged in next to the viv /rub ... viv glass opened ready , minimum ten second hot hairdryer blast then INSTANTLY dangle in front of the hide entrance.. if the snake is remotely interested even a tongue flick then they normally grab the mouse /rat . It sometimes takes a few attempts where you repeat the above procedure exactly ..


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  12. #9
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    Re: Switching to F/T tips?

    My guy was easy to switch over.. I normally leave the rat to thaw on top of his enclosure.. after a few hours I heat it up using a hair dryer.. dangle the rat in front of the snake. You can make the mouse seem alive by making realist movements if need be. Grab the mouse by the scruff of the neck with tongs and mimic realistic movements a live mouse would do.. I heat it under the hair dryer for quite some time so it’s nice and warm and offer immediately. Feed when snake is active in the evening/night and try to stay off to the side so the little guy isn’t spooked out. Wait at least a week to offer.. if he’s established and has some weight on him, be patient and try each week. I have confidence he will take it you do all of the above.


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  13. #10
    BPnet Veteran Moose84's Avatar
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    Re: Switching to F/T tips?

    Here's the truth.. I hate to say it but if you aren't willing/able to feed the snake a live rat then you probably shouldn't have it. I'm NOT trying to be a snob but you have to remember, it's whats best for the animal not for you. I have snakes that feed FT and others won't touch it no matter what I try (trust me it would be easier if they did..)

    The excuse of "its going to hurt the snake" is irrelevant in MY opinion. I have fed multiple, multiple live feedings and if the snake is healthy and not in shed and blind I have NEVER had a problem. When the rubber meets the road if the new guy won't eat frozen thawed don't make him suffer because you don't want to see a rat hurt. It's not fair to the snake..

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