Live to F/T Conversion: How long do you let the hunger strike go on?

[regiusloki]

I know it's early in the attempt (I only tried to offer my little guy a f/t on Tuesday). I did all the things that I'd read about but all he did was taste the air around it, and then ignore it completely. So how long do you let them strike until you give in and pop in a live just to keep them going? I know they can go for a couple of weeks, but where's the line between safe and danger? (I also realize that every BP is different, so this may vary, but a general guideline would be good).

Also, I've read all the tricks and tips, but if anyone has any new, interesting ways of converting, I would love to hear them!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

If switching requires time it will be necessary that the animal is of good body weight, for example if you have an adult of good body weight you could easily let months go by without having to worry, now if you have an hatchling or young animal it will not be the case.

I would suggest thawing the prey at room temps near the enclosure, and make sure that the prey is warm enough when offered.

[MrLang]

It's all about weight loss and body condition. When they start losing weight after they've pooped, I usually cave pretty quick. My last snake that isn't on frozen hasn't eaten in about 1.5 months. A smaller snake is much more fragile and shouldn't be 'pushed'.

[towelie4365]

Has your guy been feeding consistently? I had a picky hatchling who would only eat live mice. I got her to eat a f/t once early on, but it took a 20 minute zombie dance to get her to take it. Since that was too much work, I put her back on live mice, got her feeding consistently every week for 2-3 months, and then one day I offered her a f/t rat I heated up for my albino... she took it like a champ without hesitation. She is now my best eater. Maybe you just need to get him used to eating consistently first, but if he already is, I'd go 3 weeks before caving in with a young bp (meaning if the 3rd time I offer him a f/t he refuses, I'd get him live that day), or 2 weeks with one <150g, just to be safe.

[regiusloki]

[QUOTE=towelie4365;2061873]I got her to eat a f/t once early on, but it took a 20 minute zombie dance to get her to take it. Since that was too much work, I put her back on live mice, got her feeding consistently every week for 2-3 months, and then one day I offered her a f/t rat I heated up for my albino... she took it like a champ without hesitation. She is now my best eater. QUOTE]

That's basically what happened with him. I tried early on when I got him to take f/t but he flat out refused, no matter what tricks I tried to play. He's been consistant on his weekly mice, but is ready for something larger. I bumped him up to rat hopper size, and was so anxious the whole time (all those horror stories of what rats can do to snakes - I should also say that I never leave him unsupervised with live until it's good and dead and he's squeezing it into his tiny mouth). But the mice were so less threatening! So I figured before he made it to adult sized rats (even the small ones!) I wanted to try my best to switch him over to f/t.

I'm hoping one day he'll just take it with no rhyme or reason like yours... Hopefully in the near future!

[jhaskins]

I got her to eat a f/t once early on, but it took a 20 minute zombie dance to get her to take it.

just have to say this description made me laugh for it's accuracy.

[jkjerde]

but it took a 20 minute zombie dance to get her to take it.

BAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

Yuuuup, done that before.


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[AdamM]

You can try feeding him normally with a smaller then usual live prey size, then once he is finished he will still be in feed mode. Try the ft prey right after he eats his live.