Really want to switch, taking some steps first

[danielwilu2525]

Sammy has been on live ever since I got him, however a small scratch on his head from a live rat pup was more than enough to let me know it's time to switch. So I want full chances of him getting converted. So my plan is that I'll use a new substrate (by the way, which ones are the best for extra "security"?) since paper towels good but it leaves him exposed (aka more stress since he is in a exposed tub with no rack). Also more hides. I made the wrong choice of buying the water/hide all in one thing, and I believe he doesn't recognize it as a water bowl since I'm starting to see a bit of wrinkles, I'll just pick up a stand alone bowl. So I heard that flower pot saucers do WONDERS. So I'm gonna use those for maximum security. So this is basically my first step at converting him to F/T or basically just fixing my husbandry. Right now his temps are perfect but I just want to be prepared for the convertion. What do you guys think? Is my plan a yay or a ney? Probably unnecessary.

[danielwilu2525]

Also where do you buy your substrates? I want to be EXTRA careful as I have heard from many reviews that some bags bring mites. I was looking into getting repti-bark, but there were a couple reviews that claimed the bags had mites. Ha, bye!

[Mangiapane85]

I'm a believer in going to freshly killed prior to making the whole switch. .. I love live feeding and, while it can be dangerous, I think that it can be done all the way into adulthood. But that's just me. I feed F/T to most of my crew but I HATE it and some of them hate it too. Pre killed seems to initiate a much better response.

But if you're switching, "Deborah" has an awesome thread that you can search for on tips to feed the f/t


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[danielwilu2525]

I have heard of that thread, seems really good. I'll try that I guess. Thanks!

[ballpythonsrock2]

Sammy has been on live ever since I got him, however a small scratch on his head from a live rat pup was more than enough to let me know it's time to switch. So I want full chances of him getting converted. So my plan is that I'll use a new substrate (by the way, which ones are the best for extra "security"?) since paper towels good but it leaves him exposed (aka more stress since he is in a exposed tub with no rack). Also more hides. I made the wrong choice of buying the water/hide all in one thing, and I believe he doesn't recognize it as a water bowl since I'm starting to see a bit of wrinkles, I'll just pick up a stand alone bowl. So I heard that flower pot saucers do WONDERS. So I'm gonna use those for maximum security. So this is basically my first step at converting him to F/T or basically just fixing my husbandry. Right now his temps are perfect but I just want to be prepared for the convertion. What do you guys think? Is my plan a yay or a ney? Probably unnecessary.

From my experience and imo the best security substrate is the Eco-earth which comes loose in a bag. They love to push it around and surround themselves with it. They will also push it in front of their hides. There are no mites to worry about. But the negative thing about Eco-earth is it tends to be kind of clingy to water bowls and hides and they can get a mouth full of it if they miss on a strike. That last thing is the reason I went to using Aspen. But I also hated the clingy-mess of Eco-earth.
I don't know if I would choose a substrate just for it's security use, the better idea is putting things in that make for security I like using fake plants like the kinds I bought at Family Dollar (see my gallery) or that are at pet stores. Hides which are fairly snug, etc. (if your hides are a bit large, Eco-earth does help make up for that I will admit.) But anyway I think keeping your ambient temps nice and warm 82-85 are more important and often overlooked. And not over disturbing the snake. Your right, using F/T is so much more convenient and a lot safer as well, but alas some never do go for or accept F/T and they become very proficient at killing their meal. That is why the younger they get on F/T the better and the more likely they are to switch. I would do the following things to help your switch go well.
1. make sure the feeder is thoroughly thawed and nice and warm. I use a infra-red therm. and heat the feeder over 100. (I use a heat lamp with a dome), some use hairdryers, some heat mats. I personally keep the feeder dry. So I let it just thaw out near the tub or on top of the tub, then heat it up.
2. I use a long tweezers to and grab the feeder by the mid back skin and bring him horizontally toward the snake, just as it would come if it was alive. Make it go toward it's nose and back from the nose just like a scared mouse or rat would act. Make it act alive. But don't hit or scare the snake. Sometimes holding real still is the best scenario.
3. I try to read my snake to make sure it is hungry, example it is cruising around the hide looking to leave or his head is just inside the hide, strike ready. If it doesn't work the first time, reheat and try again. If it doesn't work that night. Wait 5-7 days and try again. Don't give in and feed live the next day. Monitor your snakes weight and use compassion and common sense. Mine didn't want to eat the first time but I waited a few days and it worked great the next time.

[Sandi1961]

I may have gotten very lucky...I bought a sub adult desert pastel that had never been fed anything but live...gave her a week to settle in...presented her with a medium f/t rat...she struck, wrapped it and down the hatch it went...only time she refused was just prior to a shed...but she is eating f/t now like she has never been offered anything else...

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[danielwilu2525]

From my experience and imo the best security substrate is the Eco-earth which comes loose in a bag. They love to push it around and surround themselves with it. They will also push it in front of their hides. There are no mites to worry about. But the negative thing about Eco-earth is it tends to be kind of clingy to water bowls and hides and they can get a mouth full of it if they miss on a strike. That last thing is the reason I went to using Aspen. But I also hated the clingy-mess of Eco-earth.
I don't know if I would choose a substrate just for it's security use, the better idea is putting things in that make for security I like using fake plants like the kinds I bought at Family Dollar (see my gallery) or that are at pet stores. Hides which are fairly snug, etc. (if your hides are a bit large, Eco-earth does help make up for that I will admit.) But anyway I think keeping your ambient temps nice and warm 82-85 are more important and often overlooked. And not over disturbing the snake. Your right, using F/T is so much more convenient and a lot safer as well, but alas some never do go for or accept F/T and they become very proficient at killing their meal. That is why the younger they get on F/T the better and the more likely they are to switch. I would do the following things to help your switch go well.
1. make sure the feeder is thoroughly thawed and nice and warm. I use a infra-red therm. and heat the feeder over 100. (I use a heat lamp with a dome), some use hairdryers, some heat mats. I personally keep the feeder dry. So I let it just thaw out near the tub or on top of the tub, then heat it up.
2. I use a long tweezers to and grab the feeder by the mid back skin and bring him horizontally toward the snake, just as it would come if it was alive. Make it go toward it's nose and back from the nose just like a scared mouse or rat would act. Make it act alive. But don't hit or scare the snake. Sometimes holding real still is the best scenario.
3. I try to read my snake to make sure it is hungry, example it is cruising around the hide looking to leave or his head is just inside the hide, strike ready. If it doesn't work the first time, reheat and try again. If it doesn't work that night. Wait 5-7 days and try again. Don't give in and feed live the next day. Monitor your snakes weight and use compassion and common sense. Mine didn't want to eat the first time but I waited a few days and it worked great the next time.

Thanks for your response!

- - - Updated - - -

I may have gotten very lucky...I bought a sub adult desert pastel that had never been fed anything but live...gave her a week to settle in...presented her with a medium f/t rat...she struck, wrapped it and down the hatch it went...only time she refused was just prior to a shed...but she is eating f/t now like she has never been offered anything else...

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Ha you are lucky!