Trying Live for the first time.....advice on a baby bp

[elbee]

Hi friends, I had a quick question. I have a young 2012 pewter that I have had for several weeks. I got her at the NARBC in Arlington. When I brought her home she seemed to settle in pretty well. She even ate a f/t pinky mouse a couple of days after I got her. It was feeding day, so I thawed one out just to try and she took it like a champ. Several days later, she was in shed, but I offered her another f/t pinkie rat and she grabbed it and constricted it but did not eat it. I figured in shed she might not eat anyways. However, I have been offering her food every 4-5 days and even after shed she has no interest. The breeder said that she had always eaten live before, but she ate f/t for me so I was super excited. Now I am torn because I don't know whether to keep offering her f/t or go get her a live rat fuzzy. Ive never fed live, and I don't want to at all if I don't have to. BUT, she got to eat and she is young, so I don't want her to miss many meals. Do you think if I fed her live a couple of times she might switch back over? Can I just put the little rat in her tub and run away so I don't have to hear anything? lol. The most important thing to me if her health, not my comfort. That being said, I really want her on f/t and I have hope that she will since she took it before. What do you guys think? Ive tried spit braining. And for those of you who wonder, I thaw my rats in a bucket of hot water. I usually put the rats in the bucket of hot water for 2 hours or so to let them fully thaw and them refill the bucket with hot water again to bring their temperature back up. I also do this in my snake room to let them smell it and get good and ready for feeding. I had a couple other balls not eat this week. I figure it maybe to changing seasons or just balls being balls Those snakes are older though and I don't worry about them missing a week or two. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance.

[Daybreaker]

She may be refusing because you're offering too much. I give non eaters at least 7 days before offering again. Maybe before trying live you could wait and a week and see how she does? If she refuses that too I would try live.

A rat pup (or smaller) would be fine to leave in with her as it won't cause harm to the snake.

Some snakes transition to live/ft easily and some don't. I have a big girl who took f/t just a couple times when I got her and now refuses to take it now so she gets live. Then I have a spider who was only on live when I got her and now takes f/t every feeding. It depends on the snake.

[JaGv]

if the mouse is big enough to hurt your snake keep an eye on them. you can feed live until your snake gains more weight then try to switch.

[elbee]

Well I waited a whole week to offer her food again. She was not handled at all and I was only un her tub to give fresh water and clean. She pooped several days ago and I weighed her again. She is 103 g on an empty tummy. This is how much she weighed when I got her, so she hasn't really lost weight. She had gained couple grams after eating the one time and then pooped, so she's back to 103g. She showed interest in the rat pink but never struck. I'm worried about my baby. My plan now I guess is to give her another whole week and then give her a live rat punk or fuzzy next Friday when I get home from work. I am hoping after a couple of live feeding she will switch back over. Any other advice? Thanks guys. I knew having 9 snakes, 6 of them being balls, that eventually somebody wouldn't take f/t. I'm just praying she switches over. On another note my 450-500g het pied girl hasn't eaten in the last two weeks. Could it be the weather change? Most likely balls just being balls? Hot spots are 87-90 degrees at any given time.


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[elbee]

Well I thought I would update. On sat night I gave the pewter a live rat fuzzy. Okay, my husband gave it to her. But the goal was achieved and she ate it. A little weight lifted for me knowing she just needed a live feeding. So tonight I fed the rest of my snakes and offered her a frozen thawed rat pink. She ate it no problem. I am hoping and praying she will continue to feed on f/t. Would she have just needed the encouragement of a live rat? Has anyone had this happen? I'm not complaining at all, just hope my girl keeps it up. Gotta keep that belly full
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