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BPnet Veteran
Feeding Frozen
I want to feed my 5 year olds frozen for pretty much the first time, Does anyone have any advice for me? OR is this just going to be impossible?
4 mice a week each is getting expensive, and I just can't stand feeding them live rats... they are so cute and personable!! (i have had several pet rats as pets)
Thanks guys, any input would be greatly appreciated!
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Re: Feeding Frozen
Changing from mice to rats and live to frozen might be too much all at once for a ball python. They really hate change ... LOL
It can be done, but I would take it slow ... go to P/K mice and after a good amount of successful feedings, move to F/T, and then try the switch to rats.
The important thing is routine, routine, routine ... ball pythons are very good at recognizing routines. If you have a solid consistent feeding routine, it makes switching much easier.
-adam
Click Below to Fight The National Python & Boa Ban
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
- Anna Sewell, author of Black Beauty
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Re: Feeding Frozen
Are you sticking witht he same prey type (mice) or looking to move from mice to rats as well? Your best chances of success will involve only making one of those transitions at a time.
When we were bent on getting all the critters on f/t we did not have too much of a problem though some required we give them the f/t mouse-jig puppet show.
THe thawing process can matter as well - if the f/t prey gets too wet (condensation, leaking bag) it seemed to dilute the scent somehow.
Also making sure they are warmed up enough they provide a good thermal image is key.
"I don't FEEL tardy . . ."
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BPnet Veteran
Re: Feeding Frozen
How do I warm them properly without getting them wet? I've never even bought them before frozen.
P.S. I am going to pre-kill first , as adam suggested, but I am just wondering the answer to this question...
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Re: Feeding Frozen
When I fed F/T in the past, I got them wet ... but if you don't like that idea, you can soak them in some warm water in a baggie or use a hair dryer to heat them up.
-adam
Click Below to Fight The National Python & Boa Ban
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
- Anna Sewell, author of Black Beauty
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Re: Feeding Frozen
There are several methods folks use - none really more valid than the other.
My wife preferred letting hers thaw at room temperature then holding their heads under a heat lamp to give a good strike target. I myself would put them in good ziploc bags (ming them sharp claws) and let them thaw in a cooler of warm water. Caveat: if the water and rodent get too hot you can easily wind up exploding their bellies. Never a pleasant experience.
"I don't FEEL tardy . . ."
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Registered User
Re: Feeding Frozen
Originally Posted by adizziedoll
How do I warm them properly without getting them wet? I've never even bought them before frozen.
P.S. I am going to pre-kill first , as adam suggested, but I am just wondering the answer to this question...
What I normally do is put them in a ziploc bag and stick them in an old margarine tub and fill it with hot water from the tap. It only takes about 10 minutes to thaw. But like it was said earlier, I try not to let the prey (rat in this case) get too wet.
1.0 BP (Salazar Slytherin)
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin
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Re: Feeding Frozen
Ha! I have one girl who like her mice wet. Well, they have to be wet then dried off. I don't know for sure, but the last two weeks she's taken them no problems but not if they stayed dried. *shrug* But for the majority of mine, the whole ziplock bag thing works great. Especially if you use the freezer bags, they don't leak quite as much.
Christie
Reptile Geek
Cause when push comes to shove you taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break cause its all you can take
On your knees you look up decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong wipe your hands shake it off
Then you Stand
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BPnet Veteran
Re: Feeding Frozen
Ditto for me with the zip-loc bags. I just thaw in a tub of hot water for 20 minutes and it's good to go.
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