Switching from live mice to f/t rats !!!HELP!!!

[Sandi1961]

When I was a newbie BP mom I read lots of care sheets and books...about 50% recommended feeding outside of their enclosure...and I tried it with Cleo and she would not eat...after about 6 tries I gave up and tried feeding her in her enclosure, she slammed it. I think finding her in her hide, moving the hide so I could get to her, then moving her to an open tub was too much stress. She did much better when she could stick her head out, spot the prey and ambush it! And she has never struck out at me whether hungry or not...

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[kxr]

I joined this forum for some friendly advice as how to do so many changes I had to get my BP's used to and instead I receive useless lazy advice that I could have simply gotten off google AND to top it all off I get shoved down my throat that I shouldn't be tub feeding my BP's like it's the worst thing in the world and then get told by some ametuer that I'm being rude when I asked an innocent question lmao thank you to all those on this thread (you know who you are) for restoring my faith in the kindness and generosity of the human race. You're all gems! (NOT!!!)

I'm pretty sure you did get good advice, you're just too ignorant to take it. How is it that you, someone who as far as I can tell has kept one ball python for ten years, know more about these animals then people who have kept multiple for far longer then you. Regardless of whether you're keeping the animals as breeders or as pets they are still animals that you love. Let's be real here, with the market the way it is now there's no one getting into the hobby as a way to make fast cash, they're in it for the love of the animals.

Yes, you should switch to frozen mice, then to frozen rats. Tub feeding really makes no difference. For the first eight years I kept these animals I always tub fed but the main reason was because I was housing two snakes together (which was stupid) as soon as I separated them I started to feed them in their enclosures. Are they now savage monsters? No! Also before you say something about them being tamer because they started off with tub feeding this is just plain not true. All of the animals I picked up since then (including a carpet python) have always been fed in their enclosures and they all have awesome temperaments.

If you have multiple people telling you the same thing is it possible they're wrong? Yeah, but it's less likely. Call it confirmation bias if you want it's still true.

[zina10]

This is just SO FAR OUT THERE, I'm not even sure that this isn't a "troll" ...here to cause drama.

No-one can be that ignorant. Or can they? And rude, some ?

Well, go get your snake a juicy rat to sink his "fangs" into (fangs, really??)
And aren't you sweet to them. Now that they aren't "cash cows" anymore, and won't need to "flail wildly in their tub", they get to have a tea party with you.

And you are crazy if you think I abuse my snakes. They are thriving , they eat every time, they are healthy, calm and never "flail". The ONLY time I have TOUCHED THEM on the head (not slap them, duh) was when they were in feeding mode, but I needed to remove them out of the enclosure. One slight touch and they know no rat is coming. That is simply a learned "cause and effect" for them. Most animal training is based on routine and cause and effect. Perhaps you should educate yourself some more, rather then spout immature insults at people that were nothing but helpful to you. As for water spraying being "mean"?? I guess misting the tank and some of the over spray hitting the snake (which happens just about every time one mists the tub or cage for humidity) is "mean" ??

Anyone can google articles that fit one's ideas. That doesn't make those ideas "true fact". Nothing takes the place of experience. Deb is one of the most experienced keepers. So are many others on here.

Do what you want, you will anyway. You obviously only came here to gloat about how much smarter you are then anyone else when it comes to snake keeping.

Have you ever stopped and wondered that it is YOU that is cruel and unkind to the snakes ? That perhaps you haven't taken them from their "cash cow" existence, but instead, taken them from a enclosure and existence that they felt SAFE in. And now you are trying to shove your "perfect little life on the snake prairie" fairly tale on them, of the "perfect" snake life that does nothing but stress them out ? Yeah, REAL KIND there !! Talk about causing un-necessary stress and harm.

Keep telling yourself whatever it is you want to hear. Apparently you like to hear yourself talk and everyone else is wrong and stupid/lazy/mean and what not.

Like you said...CIAO !!


sorry to everybody else

[ballpythonluvr]

So you know everything there is to know about ball pythons? Feeding outside the enclosure will indeed almost guarantee you get tagged. Back in my rookie days of keeping I used to feed in a separate enclosure and that poor snake went off feed for an extended amount of time. How dare you come on here with your pompous attitude and insult people that have been keeping and breeding snakes for years. Deborah is 100% spot on with her advice and so is everyone else but I wouldn't want to offend your "expert" opinions and experience with ball pythons. You are nothing more then an ignorant know it all. Keep your snakes however the hell you want, but don't come here complaining when things don't work out for you. You are the one that is rude and quite obnoxious to be honest.

[Sallos]

Hopefully I don't get flagged for piling on here ... but last night I reached into my baby leopard's enclosure and scooped him up before noticing he was deep in blue. His breeder warned me that he was very nippy, but over the last two months I've been gently working with him a couple times a week without seeing a strike.

Last night was no exception, he let me pick him up and explored around for a short couple of minutes before I put him back; not wanting to over stress the little guy.

Today is feeding day, and he popped out of his hide and struck the thawed rat instantly. He had no problem distinguishing food from friend.


Besides, there is no feeding tub training in the wild, and snakes have no problem telling what is food from what to fight, and what to hide/run from.

[s.chapman]

You're all clueless and you all need psychological help if you think your poop smells like roses!

[Meerna]

Now we're at straight insults? I understand that you've been given information that you don't agree with, but there's no need for that kind of language. Most of the keepers and breeders here agree on the way certain things are done, but there are others that have their own way of doing things as well. I'm sorry you couldn't get the answers you were looking for here.

[zina10]

Don't feed the troll. Not live, not FT. Not in its enclosure, out of it or on this forum

[Kira]

I think this thread should be closed now. Clearly this person doesn't actually want any help and is only here to cause trouble.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I think this thread should be closed now. Clearly this person doesn't actually want any help and is only here to cause trouble.

It is being monitored closely so we will see how it goes before deciding to close it, if we do.