New spider bp! Only been fed live...

[clairlevee]

My 173 g spider ball python will arrive tomorrow morning! I'm really excited!
And kind of worried.
The little guy has only been fed live.
(He's also only had ten meals)
I really would prefer to feed frozen. I am a first time herp owner, but I'm very aware of the ball python's picky eating tendencies, and their tendency to imprint on foods.
Has anyone had experience switching a BP from live to frozen?
Maybe I'm jumping the gun on this, but I really want the little guy to eat well. And personally, I want him eating frozen.

Here's more information on what he's been fed.. and pictures! link

Heading to the pet store tonight to get some frozen small mice and tongs.
Thanks in advance guys.

[Don]

Have you talked to the breeder to see if they will convert it for you? It isn't that hard to do. Do a search on this forum and you will see ton's of threads on how to do it. If it has eaten 10 times, it shouldn't be that hard to convert. The key is to make sure the rat fuzzy is warm (you can use a blow dryer), with the head a little warmer than the body. If you feed in the evening, with a pair of tongs doing a zombie dance, it should strike pretty quickly. Be patient and allow the smell of the rodent to permeate the room by unfreezing it in the same room as the snake.

Good luck!

[Flikky]

My 2 month old Pastel was eating live before I got her. I fed her Frozen Thawed a few days later and she didn't hesitate. I'm not saying all snakes are that easy but hopefully it'll be that easy for you too

[BWyant]

Not hard at all.

My guy Monty had been eating live mice for 4 and 1/2 years before I got him. He didn't have even a second thought about gobbling down the F/T rat that I offered him.

You want to get the prey's temp up to about 90-100, make sure it's not too warm so you don't experience explodo-rat. And then, yeah, night time feeding is best, 'cause they're most active at night. And just do a little jig with the rodent.

Don't stress over it. It's really just like going for a walk.

[Annarose15]

At that size/age, switching shouldn't be difficult. Follow Don's tips above, although I would start by getting him at least one meal of what he is used to (live) before trying to switch, so he is accustomed to eating in his new environment.

[clairlevee]

Thanks so much!
Wow I had no idea switching was that simple o.o
I feel silly now
I will definitely try the blow dryer trick.
Do you thaw it in water first or just use the blow dryer?
(the bf has a corn and he thaws in hot water)

[Don]

I leave mine out in the morning for an evening feeding, or will put them in the fridge the night before. You can thaw in water, but I like to leave it out so the smell gets them excited.

[kitedemon]

I too don't like using water, for the same reason. I thaw over night in the fridge or on the counter for a few hours. I prescent the room for 20 min or so I find this helps let the everybody know and become interested in feeding (trigger feeding response). I too would suggest feeding one meal the same as the breeder then after that try the switch. I also have never had a small snake refuse food offered mice/rats F/T live they don't seem fussy as long as the temps are correct.

[icejd7]

Just a reminder, let your snake settle in for about a week and then feed it. The new environment and stress from transport is sometimes a lot. Other than that, they usually eat FT easily. I have 5 bp's which 3 ate live before and I had no problem feeding them FT's.

Congrats on your new arrival

[AdamF]

I thaw mine in HOT water, including my 2 newest which were yearlings feeding only on live. I never use a blow dryer. And for the most part I don't have many meal refusals. Each of my 3 year olds has has gone through their BP "fussy" stage, where they went a few months each between meals. In both cases, they eventually returned to normal eating routine, when they were good and ready to do so, with no extra tricks by me.

Give your new girl a week in her new home, then toss and dance an FT in front of here, I bet she hits it, within 60 secs.