First Feed - Few Questions

[dakski]

Hi all!

I've had my first BP for a week today so i was planning on his first feeding. He pooped in his enclosure for the first time last night and as i changed out some paper towels he seemed a bit skittish

So my first question is whether or not i should try feeding today since he seemed skittish last night

Second question is live or f/t for the first meal? Breeder recommends live for first few meals, has anyone had success going f/t right away?

Thank you all

I would wait 1 more day. Make sure he's really comfortable and settled in.

How old and how much does he weigh? The older/bigger he is, the longer you can go between feedings without risk.

I had zero problems switching my 200G BP, Shayna, to F/T for live immediately. Usually, as young BP's, they switch pretty easily. She's 6 now and 1650G and has never eaten anything but F/T with me.

Below I have my detailed description of how to thaw and offer F/T prey. This should help you have a higher likelihood of success.






This is my step by step list on defrosting F/T rodents.

Others may do it differently and that's fine. This how I do it and it works for me.


STEPS FOR DEFROSTING F/T RODENTS/PREY

1. Put prey item(s) into appropriate size plastic bag (1 for each). I use Quart size ziplock bags up to a medium rat. NOTE: Bags are optional. Some people just throw the prey in the water. I like the bags, but you have to squeeze the air out of them.

2. Fill the container/storage box 3/4 of the way with room temp to slightly warm water. If you have a temp gun (which you should, so if you don't, get one), make sure the water is not hotter than 85-90F, or there about.

3. Put F/T prey item(s) in water. Cover (optional) and leave for an hour +/-.

4. After an hour, rotate/flip prey. If in plastic bags, they often will stay on whatever side you put them in on. So if mouse is on left side, turn to right side, etc.

5. Leave for another hour +/- for a TOTAL of about 2 hours (up to medium sized rat - longer if bigger prey for when ROE is bigger and eating Large rats, for example).

6. Check that prey is defrosted totally through. Squeeze at different sections of the preys body. Should be cool/room temp to touch, but be soft with no cold spots. If hard (except for bone), in abdomen, for example, or cold, put back in water until room temp and soft.

7. Take prey out of the container/storage box and put aside. THEN FOLLOW STEPS 8-11 OR STEP 12

8. Fill container with hot water from tap. If using temp gun, water temp should be 110-130F, not more.

9. Drop prey item into water for 30 seconds +/-. If multiple prey items, do one at a time. You want each item hot when you offer.

10. Remove (if hot water, with tongs).

11. Dry as best as you can, and is quickly as you can, with paper towels. I dry with paper towels while I am walking from the bathroom where I defrost to the snake tanks. I kind of wrap the prey item up in them. It's ten feet, so by the time I get to the tanks, the prey is drier, but still warm.

12. If not using hot water, use a hairdryer to heat rat so it entices snake

13. Open tank and offer ASAP.