how to feed F/T

[kellysballs]

I have browsed through a few threads and I haven't really answered my own question so I am going to put it out there to all you guys who have more experience than myself.
All of my BP and my Boa are eating live small rats (boa eats large or jumbo). I would like to change over to Frozen thawed because of all the benefits I have read about. In your opinion/experience what was the easiest way to switch from live to Frozen Thawed prey? Or, would it be easier to switch to pre killed? I have read quite a bit about the co2 chambers and I like that Idea.
Presently I am smacking the rats on a board to "stun" them, however I really don’t like doing this and I wont do it in front of my daughter (she really loves the snakes and likes hold them and help with maintenance).

Okay guys I am ready to "learn to get some knowledge"
Thanks.

[xdeus]

The best way to get them to switch is to just give it a try. You might find that your snakes don't really care (especially your Boa). However, if they don't take them there are a few things you can try.

First off, you can try scenting the room for about 30 minutes before trying to feed them. You could try stunned, but I believe the largest obstacle is to get them to eat something that is being offered to them on tongs instead of just a scent difference between stunned and F/T.

Make sure the F/T rat is warm. Hold the rat behind their shoulders with the tongs and slowly approach your snake from the side. Boas and Pythons are ambush predators so they will feel more comfortable with a rat going by them instead of just being wiggled in their face.

Oh, and the CO2 chamber is definitely the way to go.

Good luck!

[muddoc]

All of Lawrences points are good ones. However, I have a few snakes that like to eat on the run. So if you have a snkae that won't take the rat off of tongs by slowly moving the rat, I sometimes try to move the rat around the tub quickly as if it were running. Once I see the snake get interested, I stop the rat and see if they'll take it. Hope this helps.

[recycling goddess]

personally i prescent the room... by setting the bowl of water and prey items in that room to thaw. then i figure out where the snake to be fed is into enclosure and set the prey item near it.

then i close up the tub and the snake does the rest.

occassionally i have to take the prey out and reheat it and then put it back... when i do this... almost every time it's gets taken right away.

[Sausage]

Here's my f/t feeding process:
-put frozen mouse into a plastic bag
-put that into warm water
-leave it there for ~30 minutes, changing the water to keep it warm
-make sure the mouse is nice and warm
-feed to snake

make sure you NEVER microwave the mouse.

[AkivaSmith]

I take the f/t mouse out of the freezer the night before and wrap it in tin foil. then I put it into the refrigerator to thaw. About one hour before feeding I put it (the tin foil bundle) on top of the screen under the heat lamp. Boy, Fluffy perks up right away and he starts looking for the mouse. By the time I open the door and present the mouse on my tongs he jumps it. Takes no more than 5 seconds.

[stangs13]

My ball was swithced over in 1 try, the breeder had her on live, the next week after I get her I feed her FT. I just took it in my hemostats and and jingled it infront of her. Now everytime she hears my forceps hit the table she jumps out of her hide and goes after me, saying FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD!! Then she will strike at me, and i do the matrix then I give her the rat! And whats fun is since shewas fed live before I got her she constricts every time!!

[kellysballs]

Thanks guys for the adivce. One more question, how long can a thawed prey item just chill in the cage with with the snake? Doesnt it go bad? Also can they be refrozen if they dont eat?

Just to clarify the Boa is in a seperate room and I never feed anything to the Balls after the Boa has had a go at it. Also I do there feedings and maintanince on seperate days. (All this came around after I learned of IBD.)

[xdeus]

Thanks guys for the adivce. One more question, how long can a thawed prey item just chill in the cage with with the snake? Doesnt it go bad? Also can they be refrozen if they dont eat?

Just to clarify the Boa is in a seperate room and I never feed anything to the Balls after the Boa has had a go at it. Also I do there feedings and maintanince on seperate days. (All this came around after I learned of IBD.)

You can leave the F/T rodent in the cage overnight. You might be able to refreeze it, but it's not recommended. The refreezing process will break down the cells even more and you will end up with a very mushy rat that will tend to burst open creating a rather unpleasant mess.

Besides... that's why Boas were created: to get rid of leftovers.

[Schlyne]

I would not refreeze a prey item that's been left out overnight. I'd be concerned about decay/bacteria build up etc. I would toss a prey item that's been left out overnight.