First time live feeding, need to knows?

[Blitzjg]

So I'm still making adjustments with my current husbandry for my 5week old as you probably noticed from my numerous topics. While I still am waiting for a couple answers in my previous thread, as advised I will try feeding live until he's successfully eaten since he has yet to be switched.

Thursday he refused the f/t and yesterday I moved him from a 15 gallon tank with just paper towels to a 6 qt tub with aspen.

When should I try to feed again and should I stick to hopper size or try weaned?

What do I need to feed live? The only thing I know is to supervise and take the feeder out if he hasn't eaten it after 30 minutes. Do I need to buy food and a water thing for the feeder in case he doesn't take it?

[satomi325]

Thursday he refused the f/t and yesterday I moved him from a 15 gallon tank with just paper towels to a 6 qt tub with aspen.

When should I try to feed again and should I stick to hopper size or try weaned?

What do I need to feed live? The only thing I know is to supervise and take the feeder out if he hasn't eaten it after 30 minutes. Do I need to buy food and a water thing for the feeder in case he doesn't take it?

I wouldn't feed him again for another week. That gives him some time to adjust to the new tub.

I suggest trying a mouse hopper or rat pup.
Do not dangle the feeder. Just place it gently into the tub. Sounds like you got the rest down in regards to taking out uneaten feeders and supervising.

If you are keeping the feeder short term, you can just give it table scraps or whatever appropriate food item you have around your house (grains, bread, cereal, etc). And you can use whatever little dish you have at home. You probably don't need to go out and buy anything for the feeder unless it becomes a pet or something.

[grcforce327]

The best thing for anyone, is to do extensive reading on all the ball python forum sites first, then purchase one. Many questions can be answered,including yours,by searching the forum sites.

[Blitzjg]

That's great in theory but in practice you'll never be prepared enough regardless of how much you've read. And I did some research but ill be the first to admit I jumped the gun a little. These forums, although one of the most active, are still not as prolific with information as I would like and sifting through numerous threads for the specific scenarios I have questions for is not always feasible. Not to mention I access this site mainly through my iPhone app.

But I do appreciate your input

[Neal]

The best thing for anyone, is to do extensive reading on all the ball python forum sites first, then purchase one. Many questions can be answered,including yours,by searching the forum sites.

Or like I've told others, instead of posting that useless bit of information and the time it took you to think of and type that you could of searched the forum for him and gave him a link, or you could of just found another thread to post on since you don't seem like you're giving anything even remotely close to useful as far as information goes.

Now, to the OP, first off, sorry for the ignorance above. You should just ignore users that tell you to search the forum or make them look stupid in hopes they find somewhere else to go. Since you've moved him to a different enclosure the best thing to do would be to wait another week like satomi suggested. A new enclosure with new bedding and stuff is a new place to him, while we're smart enough to know it's only a simple enclosure change, to the snake it's a completely new environment. I would ask the person you purchased him from what size they were feeding him and you can stick with live or next week you can try F/T. Some things would be to make them "zombie dance" as a new thread appeared with that term. I've successfully switched snakes to F/T that way until they no longer need the dangle, though I did have one BP that always needed that little dance to encourage him. Then just because you want your snake to eat F/T doesn't mean it will. They have members on here that have tried time and time again to make that switch and in the end the snake will eat what the snake wants. Some prefer certain sizes, while others prefer certain colors. Good luck with the switch and if you do attempt the zombie dance, don't bop your snake on the nose. I wouldn't skip too many meals with that snake in attempt to get the switch done because it's only 5 weeks old. You can always try again later.

[Blitzjg]

Yeah that's what I figured, I'll get him eating with me before trying the switch to f/t. One concern I have with his new tub is that I only put 5 holes in, 3 on 1 end and 2 on the other, should that be enough for proper ventilation or do I need to add more?

Thanks for your posts they have been helpful