What is the best way to switch from live to f/t?

[Trackstrong83]

Alright I'll give that a shot

[The Serpent Merchant]

Some will go straight to F/T, and some won't it all depends on the individual BP

[Trackstrong83]

Yeah I had a feeling it all depended on the individual snake. Fingers crossed mine will take F/T the FIRST TIME lol

[The Serpent Merchant]

Yeah I have heard of CO2 being the best way. I'll have to check to see if my work has a CO2 chamber. ( i work at a pet supplies plus ) Thanks a ton man.

I seriously doubt that they will have a chamber, but they are fairly easy to make.

This works nicely: http://www.rodentracks.com/DIY_Co2_Chamber.html

As does this: http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forum...2-chamber.html

[Slim]

I've completed the swich over 7 times now, and if all goes according to plan, will be working on number 8 after this weekend.

As with most things, I alwasy try and go from simple to hard:

1) Just thaw, heat with hair dryer and toss it in...about half the time this actually works.

1A) Pre-scent the room by thawing near the enclosure.

1B) Leave it in the enclosure over night.

2) Dangle from tongs with a little movement.

3) Full on Zombie Dance.

4) Scent with tuna juice.

5) Brain the rat.

6) A combo of any of the above tricks.

[sniper]

i found the best way for me and the creapiest is ziploc vacum bags just pump out the air and that it, very humane and quick. my BP is having troubles with fresh kill or frozen, but my red tail she'll eat fresh kill and the BP left overs, some times it just up to the snake on want it likes to eat.

[Mike41793]

I have probably heard the most success stories with using the braining trick...Also if you skip a meal and wait 2 week your snake will be hungrier. Thaw out the rat in the same room so the snake can smell it. Then try the braining thing and offer it.

[mbaker8686]

I just made the switch over mainly due to an influx of mouths to feed (I went from 2 mouths to 10 in about 2 months). I found it easiest to first get them to take live from forceps, then take prekilled from forceps. When i finally put them all on f/t they took them from forceps with ease.

I do have two picky eaters, and if they will not take from the forceps i usually just leave it (the f/t rat, not live) in their tub and they take it during the night.

[Spyderco1116]

Just do it! (as NIKE would say) lol... My BP was on live before I got him. I offered a f/t and he grabbed it in less than 30 seconds! He has been eating f/t ever since...

[Slim]

My BP was on live before I got him. I offered a f/t and he grabbed it in less than 30 seconds! He has been eating f/t ever since...

May they all be that easy...

Many are not.