Switching From Live to F/T for Young Ball Python

[dsbarnet]

So here is my predicament. I am looking at buying one of two albino black pastel balls from BHB. However I have been told they are both on live and have not been tried on F/T. They are rather young. 111g and 109g. However, I know of no live mice/rat breeders around me and doubt I could get any. Is there a high enough chance of switching them to F/T immediately so that I can go ahead and get them, or should I just not risk it as I don't want to be unable to feed them properly.

Thanks!

[Craiga 01453]

How much experience with BPs do you have?

How set on those particular snakes are you?
Have you asked them to try switching the snake over prior to purchase?
Would you be opposed to going through another breeder?

[MD_Pythons]

Why not get a bp that's already feeding on f/t?

[dsbarnet]

How much experience with BPs do you have?

How set on those particular snakes are you?
Have you asked them to try switching the snake over prior to purchase?
Would you be opposed to going through another breeder?

As far as time with BPs go I don't have a lot of time, but I have pretty much everything down. However, I don't have experience with switching from live. I do like them a lot and wouldn't be opposed to going through another breeder. My only issue is that I only have experience with BHB who I like a lot, and no other experience with any other breeder. I have asked if they would be willing to try going to f/t but I believe my email was sent after their working hours so I'll probably have to wait until tomorrow for an answer.

Honestly though after thinking about it. I definitely shouldn't buy it unless it is feeding on f/t. I thought about it though and if I can't get live mice/rats in case it won't switch over to f/t then I shouldn't risk it for the sake of the animal and its health.

[oodaT]

If your buying from BHB, then ask if they can try switching over. I know he doesn't like to feed live and the majority of his animals are on FT, live feeding is a last resort for him iirc.

Switching from live to f/t can be a pain for a first time keeper or limited experience, although some beeps have zero problems making the switch. I had 1 that took months to make the switch and I have several that done it on their first try at feeding.

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[dsbarnet]

If your buying from BHB, then ask if they can try switching over. I know he doesn't like to feed live and the majority of his animals are on FT, live feeding is a last resort for him iirc.

Switching from live to f/t can be a pain for a first time keeper or limited experience, although some beeps have zero problems making the switch. I had 1 that took months to make the switch and I have several that done it on their first try at feeding.

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I believe is wife is who I was emailing back and forth with and she said it was a BP that they had gotten from a friend of theirs. So I am wondering if their friend had them on live so they kept them on live. Either way, I have asked for them to try f/t and I guess I will find out the answer tomorrow

[Caali]

I believe is wife is who I was emailing back and forth with and she said it was a BP that they had gotten from a friend of theirs. So I am wondering if their friend had them on live so they kept them on live. Either way, I have asked for them to try f/t and I guess I will find out the answer tomorrow

I believe it's best if the breeder tries feeding F/T. The worms are not stressed from a new environment and he knows their feeding schedule etc.
Concerning your question before: I do believe most ball pythons can make the switch but it depends on the animal.
My ball python took F/T on his second try and I've not had trouble feeding him since then (I didn't find one breeder in my country that didn't feed live but the breeder that I went with said, she believed he'd probably take F/T since he was/is a great eater.). If you have a ball python that refuses the first few meals, it'll get more tricky but there are lots of tips online to help you. The most important thing is that you try to emulate a real mouse/rat. The temperature, the smell and the movements should be close enough, so that the two little ball pythons will fall for it.
Also in some cases ball pythons that have eaten F/T their whole life or for a very long time suddenly can decide to refuse F/T. Then you have to feed live rodents as well.

[KillerKame]

I'm going to join the chorus of 'it depends on the animal'.

Anecdotally both of mine were feeding on live when I got them and switch immediately without issue.

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[Sonny1318]

I think you should go the route you’re most comfortable with. I personally believe with a little effort and knowledge it shouldn’t be all that difficult. Scenting it with used liter, heating it with a hairdryer to the proper temperature (around 100 degrees) and hopefully it should all go well. Good luck.