This is interesting. My first ball I fed a live hopper to for his first meal and he took it just fine, then I went to f/t rats and the first time he seemed interested but wasn't going to do anything. I went to lightly tap his body with it while doing the zombie dance and I accidentally dropped it (like less than an inch off) and when it rolled off he went for it. I have one snake that was supposedly slamming f/t rats that isn't right now and I'll have to try that with her to get her started with me. She downs live just fine though.