I think one of Connie's concerns with you offering your snake a Gerbil as a "treat" is that Ball Pythons are imprint feeders, meaning that they choose one type of rodent and it is hard to get them to switch. Gerbils are sometimes used to get finicky eaters to start eating again. The problem is that it can be challenging to switch a Ball Python back to rats/mice after it has taken a Gerbil. Perhaps because of it's high percentage of fat, Ball Pythons tend to stick with them. Plus, if you do manage to switch a snake back to mice/rats after it takes a Gerbil, it may become a picky eater and occasionally refuse everything but a Gerbil. So despite giving your snake some extra fat by giving it a Gerbil as a "treat", it could potentially cause some issues with your snake in the future, not to mention the stress that switching prey items can cause your snake and your self. So simply from a saftey standpoint, I would definitely agree with Connie and recommend that you do not offer a Gerbil to your snake. Besides that, your snake wouldn't think of it as a "treat". A varied diet is not a good thing with Ball Pythons.
You are very welcome! I just noticed that you are in Colorado. Do you ever go to the Rocky Mountain Reptile Expo?
THIS right here are words to live by. I don't think anyone else could have said it any better.
---=ALLISON=--- "Not everyone is going to agree or listen to what you say but I have learned to do my best to educate and hope they listen in the long run. Just keep trying to educate. There will be people out there that actually do listen and learn. -Me"
Originally Posted by LGL
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