How to switch from Live to F/T?

[Domepiece]

So how do you switch from live to frozen thawed? Half my snakes switched no problem, some took once but now refuse, and the others wont have anything to do with F/T. I try f/t with the ones that wont take it but if they dont then i just give them live. How does everybody else get them to switch? Thanks

[llovelace]

Make sure the food is thawed properly, and heated well. The zombie dance works. Some need privacy, so you'll have to leave in over night.
Patience is key here lol. Good luck

[RyanT]

Some will easily, some really never will. Depends on how old and how set in their ways they are. Can try:

Feeding a small live prey item, immediately offer a f/t prey item right after they're done the first one.

Entice the snake with the f/t and then leave it in the cage with it, turn the lights off and just leave it alone. Hopefully in the morning, it will be gone.

Or, sometimes they just have to be really hungry before they'll stop being so snobby and take what you have to give them. This method requires a lot of patience and paying attention to how their weight is. Obviously, you don't want to starve or neglect the snake. Feeding live sucks though, so whatever it takes is worth it. (Without ever jeopardizing the snake's health, of course.)

[wendhend]

I have 12 out of my 14 ball pythons taking frozen consistently now, and one that takes prekilled off of tongs but not frozen. This is what has worked for me:

1. Attempting to switch them during the summer, when they all seem to have the best appetite and eat most consistently anyway.

2. Feeding small thawed prey warmed and dangled on tongs right at the door of their hide while they are inside. (Putting ball pythons in a separate container for feeding is often counterproductive.)

3. Some will not switch directly from live to frozen / thawed but will take prekilled that is still warm. I dangle it at the door of their hides on tongs for them to strike at. Once they have eaten pre-killed a few times, many of them will transition to warmed frozen presented in the same manner.

4. I have not had much luck switching young hatchlings to frozen and even seen my attempts result in them going on a "hunger strike" for a few weeks. Now I just wait until their first summer when they are approaching a year of age and are nice and chubby before attempting to switch. I have gotten a much better response from them that way.

[loonunit]

Yeah, it always works best in the late summer, when their hunger is peaking.

First I'll try faking them out, by offering them a small live item followed by a small f/t of the same size and type.

If that doesn't work for several weeks in a row, I'll start skipping meals. I'll offer the animal a large f/t every week, but if they refuse, I'll only offer a tiny live mouse, and only every other week. Basically I'm saying: I'll keep you alive and healthy on live, but you'll always be hungry. OR you could eat this nice fat f/t jumbo!

[RestlessRobie]

I found the biggest issue with F/T and switching was temp of the prey. Just make sure you prey item is good and warm. I also scented the room when I siwtched mine used a blow dryer near the enclosure to heat the rat to temp and She took the prey with just a little zombie dance work

[tcutting]

i haven’t had too much difficulties. Just make sure the snake is hungry, Thaw the rat, then what i do is, place it on a surface and have a heat lamp about 6-10inches above heat it up a bit above room temp. then open the cage tap lightly along the edge and then use feeding tongs and present the feed item. I shake it a little while i do this and it fools them or at least entices them enough to take it.

Thats what i did to transition from live to F/T and its worked for me thus far.