I keep hearing all these stories about balls not taking ft is if ur ball takes mice then u should be using ft mice or vice versa when I switched mine over he was on live rats, however feeding day I gave him a live mouse they were out of rats, and he only killed it not ate it. So I froze it three days later I thawed and warmed him in the box I brought home rats in to scent him, took him a min to buy the whole zombie rat dance but he took the first time no prob and no problems since about to do it again, I gues the trick is conversion as early as possible he was only 4-4 1/2 months then now 5 months old, when I got my baby red tail boa three weeks ago she was on ft already and she was only 4-6 weeks old then she won't even take it unless I just sit it in her cage she doesn't strike it she just swallows it without even constricting, plus I think it makes them less likely to bite you, no one including including myself has ever been bit by either of my snakes even the breeder! Just stay persistent make sure they are warm and that the head is the warmest part, I thaw mine in hot water until I can't feel any more cold then I heat them up a little more with a hair dryer, then use tongs so u don't have the chance of getting bit