How can i get ball python to eat f/t rats?

[BumbleB]

Scissors?

Thongs?

Lmaooo

[Saber402]

Put the rat in a baggie and leave it out to thaw for at least a couple hours. Get a large bowl, fill it with the hottest tap water that will come out. Let it soak for about 10 minutes. Remove from the bag and use a hair dryer on it for a couple minutes. This dries it if it got wet and warms it up a little more. If you dangle it in front of the snake and he doesn't take it, put it in the hide with the snake. Turn out any lights (I feed in the evenings) and leave him be. Check in about an hour and see if the rat is gone. Leave it in the hide overnight if necessary. If he still hasn't eaten by morning, dispose of the rat. After a couple feedings like this he may just strike and coil. This has worked for me to switch them over. Usually takes 2 or 3 feedings.

Good luck!

[Sgpython]

@saber402 Thank you!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ticktock]

As a Vet Tech I wouldn't switch her unless u have to. If she is happy with live and not having any problems then I don't see a reason to switch.

Sent from my SCH-R760X using Tapatalk

[Saber402]

As a Vet Tech I wouldn't switch her unless u have to. If she is happy with live and not having any problems then I don't see a reason to switch.

Sent from my SCH-R760X using Tapatalk

People switch for numerous reasons including cost of live vs F/T, availability of live in their immediate area, and most importantly eliminating the risk of the rodent injuring the snake during feeding, to name a few. Switching to F/T presents no ill effect on the snake. Mine still strike and coil to "kill" the prey. They know no difference.

[sho220]

People switch for numerous reasons including cost of live vs F/T, availability of live in their immediate area, and most importantly eliminating the risk of the rodent injuring the snake during feeding, to name a few. Switching to F/T presents no ill effect on the snake. Mine still strike and coil to "kill" the prey. They know no difference.

Trying to get the snake to strike prey being held by scissors is reason enough for the OP to stick with live...then again, maybe not...good luck to that poor snake...

[Neal]

A lot of them goes into how you prepare the f/t as well. If you ever watch any of my feeding videos then you'll notice mine will try to eat my hand if I open that tub and don't have a rat present.

I thaw them out naturally for a 4-5 hours. Then I fill a sterilite container up with hot water from the tap and then I put them in the hot water(still inside the ziploc bag) and I just open a bit of the ziploc bag so I can make sure all the air gets out. Then I reseal and leave that part out of the container and I put the top on. This helps to retain the heat. After that I let the water get cool and then I put everything on paper towels which is on a plate I never use and I put them under a heat lamp for 15-20 minutes. After that I hit them with a hair dryer to scent the room of rats then they're ready to go.

[Saber402]

Trying to get the snake to strike prey being held by scissors is reason enough for the OP to stick with live...then again, maybe not...good luck to that poor snake...

My comment was directed in response to ticktocks post, certainly not the OP's methods. It is always amazing to see all of my BP's out of their hides after I have heated the first rat or two with the hair dryer. I even warm them up in a different room, but mine are all focused on feeding when I walk in the room. Just one of the reasons ball pythons are so interesting.

[sho220]

My comment was directed in response to ticktocks post, certainly not the OP's methods. It is always amazing to see all of my BP's out of their hides after I have heated the first rat or two with the hair dryer. I even warm them up in a different room, but mine are all focused on feeding when I walk in the room. Just one of the reasons ball pythons are so interesting.

Understood...sorry for the confusion. I'm still on the fence whether it would be better for the OP to stick with live or have his snake lunging for a rat dangling from the end of scissors...

[Saber402]

Understood...sorry for the confusion. I'm still on the fence whether it would be better for the OP to stick with live or have his snake lunging for a rat dangling from the end of scissors...

No problem! I agree on the use of scissors. I am hoping that was just an error in vocabulary!