Do BPs change feeding habits?

[Glass]

Will a bp that is raised eating f/t meals suddenly switch to only eating live prey? I've heard that this can happen, and I don't really have the set up to deal with keeping prey alive if the snake won't eat them. Also I'd rather not feed live mice, but I can do it if I have to.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

When you own a snake you MUST be prepared to feed what works and most importantly live if it comes down to it and yes it can come down to have to feed live.

[Glass]

Thanks for the response. Do you know how common this is? Also, what do you do with live prey your snake has rejected?

[SDA]

Most times when a bp is raised eating F/t they are pretty good about continuing toward feeding f/t throughout their life. Some differences are that sometimes when they eat mice they have a hard time switching to rats and a few times they can go off feeding for a short period as they mature and tend to do it in the winter months.

I think if you have a ball python with a good feed response they shouldn't switch from frozen thawed once acclimated to it.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Thanks for the response. Do you know how common this is? Also, what do you do with live prey your snake has rejected?

It's not a common occurance (since 2006 I had it happen with 2 different animals), the problem is that people tend to over-react when their BP goes of feed especially when it last longer than a month or two and tend to think that a change in prey item is the solution when usually it is about husbandry and patience.

Now of course if the fast last longer than 6 to 9 months, and no change helps the animal resume feeding live should be considered, same with very young animals failing to eat (You have a limited amount of time with younger animals to get then back on track)

[cchardwick]

I was feeding pre killed / frozen thawed for quite some time and I had several ball pythons that were on a 'fast'. I switched over to live and they all started eating. I don't think it's because they 'suddenly switched', I believe that live rodents are a more natural and readily accepted food source compared to a dead rodent. I don't believe that ball pythons are scavengers (eating other dead animals), they are predators born and bred to hunt and kill rodents. I think that's hard for people to comprehend since it's completely opposing our human nature. Best thing to do with extra rodents is to bring them back to the breeder / pet store or give them away to other local snake keepers. Or get another snake other than a ball python that will always eat your left overs.