1yr old ball python tricky transition to f/t food. Need advice/information

[dakski]

Once the husbandry is fixed, I would make sure you are defrosting and offering F/T prey appropriately and not "cooking it" and/or letting it get cool before offering.

See below for a list of to properly defrost F/T prey and offer.

Make sure you offering the same size rodent or even a little smaller. So maybe a rat pup or a small weaned F/T rat to start.

In my experience, my female BP (Shayna), who is now 1,800G+ and 8 years old does better with slightly smaller meals than larger ones. It keeps her hunting. Less of an issue with a younger BP, but they can fast if given too large a meal, especially if eating f/t. Feeding Shayna a 60-80G small rat versos a medium rat every two weeks means that in the summer she rarely misses a meal and lunges out of her hide to nail the F/T prey.

Keep us posted. You should be able to make the switch if husbandry is correct, you feed at night, and you follow the instructions below.

Feel free to ask for clarification or any other questions that come to mind.



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 . 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).

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 - wiggle the prey a little on the tongs but do not get in the snakes face with it, especially BP's, as they can be shy.