The first zombie dance, switching from live to F/T

[Blitzjg]

So I tried my first F/T mouse after 3 successful live feeds last week, and he didnt take it. I know part of the problem was my technique, I was too aggressive and startled him with it as I introduced it close to his head.

How do you recommend feeding/introducing the mouse? Should I just set it in there at the opposite end and leave him be? Or should I dangle it at the opposite end, and when/if he shows interest, start the zombie dance?

I know to make sure the mouse is warm, but how warm? 95? 97? 98 or over 100? How hot is too hot?

[Marrissa]

My experience with one snake so far: I heat up to anywhere between 90-100. Doesn't seem to matter much as long as it's in that range. I hold the rat behind the shoulder blades of the rat and just blow to move the scent. Allure comes right out and torpedoes at it. He's been on F/T for as long as I know though. When I first had him I never had luck with leaving the mouse there for him. I've never moved the mouse/rat around to get him interested. Usually it's the smell and the slight wobble of me holding the thing is enough for him. From a thread in the general section a while ago it seems it really just depends on the individual though.

How old is the snake? I'm waiting on a female I just purchased and another female to take F/T before they come to me. For both they are taking live but not F/T yet. The consensus from several breeders is that they will begin to take F/T after they've been on live and eating well for a bit.

[Artemille]

I just hold the rat by the scruff with hemostats and hover the rat's nose right next to the snake's face for a few moments and they take it.

Make sure it's hot and won't cool down too fast. I usually dunk them in hot water and towel them off, but rodents thawed in warm water in a baggie retain heat better than ones thawed in the fridge in my experience. All of my snakes on ft switched in about three feeds. My two adult males absolutely refuse though.

[Jayrhamlin]

You could try putting the mouse on/near the enclosure for a few minutes. Once they have the smell the may strike once they see the heat signature. I have a few who will seem uninterested until I go back in a second time.

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[DPBallPythons]

I have switched a couple of ball pythons to F/T by doing this: make sure the snake senses the smell of the mouse/rat before going in. The snake should be in feeding mode before you open the tub/enclosure. Your rodent should be warm and toasty, and then just go for the zombie dance. I usually do the dance in the front of the tub and then move closer to the snake. Hopefully the snake will bite and constrict, and when/if he do, they seem to like if you shake the rodent (when it is constricted) with a tong for like 2-3 seconds to make it become "alive". I stop doing this once they have eaten F/T about 5-6 times maybe.

This is the way I do it, it works for me and I'll be doing it when my killerbee arrives. Whatever technique you're using, keep us posted please

[steve_r34]

deforst f/t in a sandwitch bag the one without the ziplock.. after its deforsted get a tub a wear put water in it microwave it about 4-5 min keep f/t in sandwitch bag and set in hot water wait about a min take out the bag go to ur snake open bag .. watch snake to make sure he smells it .. u will see him/her going crazy then take f/t by tail and hold about one inch away from snake with the nose down and snake should strike .. alot of the time swtching is hard because we dont heat up enought for them to sense it

[Blitzjg]

Well I tried today and it seemed successful! I opened the ziploc near the tub and he started smelling with his tongue, so I just slowly approached him and held the mouse about 5 inches from him. He slowly worked his way toward it. I held it with my hands just because it's easier to manipulate. He struck, so I closed up his enclosure to leave him be, I will check later tonight to make sure theres no carcass or regurg sitting in with him.

[grcforce327]

The first zombie dance?

WTF is that suppose to mean?

[Neal]

I hold the tail with feeding tongs and wiggle slightly because BP's can be so sketchy. I would be careful not to tap your snake as it'll cause them to jerk away. I did however slightly rub the rat against him so he could feel it. Some took it off the tongs, others I just left it there and closed the tub and within 20 minutes they ate.