Refused f/t rat

[DemmBalls]

If your BP refuses a rat...what do you do with it? It has already been thawed and my other BP has already been fed?

Also...any tips for getting a stubborn snake to take f/t? She actually acts scared of the f/t rat...even though she readily feeds on equal sized live rats.

[tina_t]

when switching my lesser from live mice to frozen, i tried to make 'lifelessness' the only variable changed... so dry thawed and fluffed up like a live mouse, same color and then i use tongs to simulate the way a mouse moves when its dropped into her enclosure. i find you have to do a little song and dance for them -- they dont recognize a flopped out mouse as prey... its not moving... see if that helps. If the snake is a bit bigger, just try offering f/t and if its refused wait til next feeding day and try again. the other thing you can do is rub the ft rat in rat shavings, to make it smell a bit more 'genuine'.

good luck!

[xdeus]

If your BP refuses a rat...what do you do with it? It has already been thawed and my other BP has already been fed?

I used to have that problem... and then I got a BCI. You may be able to refreeze it once, but I wouldn't risk it. Just toss it and try again in a week with a fresh one.

Also...any tips for getting a stubborn snake to take f/t? She actually acts scared of the f/t rat...even though she readily feeds on equal sized live rats.

You can usually get most Balls to eat F/T, but occasionally you will get one that just prefers live no matter what you try. There are a few things you can try, though. Make sure you feed when their feeding response is the highest: about an hour or two after it gets dark. It also helps to prescent the room for about 30 minutes before you offer the rat. You can also try adding soiled rat bedding to the cage about 20-30 minutes before offering it.

Try that for a few weeks, and if it doesn't work go back to live and try again after she starts eating consistently.

[DemmBalls]

I tried a few more times with no success...I did get a few good looks though. I'll just wait til her next scheduled feeding day and see what happens. Next time i'll try her first...that way if she doesnt eat, i'll just give it to my pastel (he's a house)!

Thanks for the advice guys!