Will not touch f/t

[tmartin2347]

I got 4 new bp's from the same breeder a while back, and will not touch f/t.

Does anyone have any really good tricks to switch them over?

[LadyOhh]

The death dance works well...

Just take the FT (warmed up) with tongs and do a little jiggle dance..

Make sure not to shove it in the snake's face, but in the vicinity, and it should simulate a live animal.

[janeothejungle]

granted, the 'zombie' dance may have to be repeated a few times before the snake gets the message. Also avoid shoving your whole hand in the bin with the snake, you want to make them think that they are alone with the zombie mouse..... ohhh the temptation.....

Cheers,
Kat

[soy.lor.n]

In my vast experience with converting from live to f/t (i.e. I've fed my snake once ever lol) it helps to move the f/t animal away from the snake, while doing the zombie dance, like the mouse is running from the snake. When I was moving it about in place, she showed some interest, but moving it away from her seemed to be the real key.

[missi182]

The first time I fed my bp f/t it took him about 45 minutes before he took it but he was interested in the meal the whole time. I found that if I did the little dance with the mouse and tongs then moved it to the other side of the enclosure for a minute or two he would look around to see where it went.

I did this a few times and finally he took it. Just be careful not to stress your snake out by over-doing the "dead mouse" dance, because that could make your attempts at feeding even harder. If you have already tried a few times, give him a week before you try again and thaw the mouse on-top or near the enclosure for the day and that might help trigger some feeding response. Then try again with a similar attempt.

Hope that helps!

[tmartin2347]

Thanks everyone for your help. I think I think I will try the hokey pokey next sunday.

[Brimstone111888]

Try leaving one in over night, if they refuse the zombie dance

[soy.lor.n]

Try leaving one in over night, if they refuse the zombie dance

I actually left mine in there for about an hour, and she sniffed at it the whole time, before repeating the zombie dance....and that's when she struck. So when you give up, and go to take it out, make sure to give it one more shot!

[Jenn]

Am I missing something here? Does the OP want to switch from FT to live rather than the other way around? If this is the case you're in luck. I've done this with all of my snakes. It's way easier than switching from live to FT.

[FireproofGorilla]

Okay, you all know I've gotta throw my hand into this one. This may seen unorthodox, but my python Mila didn't take to the zombie dance. Just when I was about to give up on her eating f/t, I put her in her tank and just set the prey in front of her and left it there with her and left her alone (this was her first feeding at home). I sat down and just played COD4 and kept an eye on her out of the corner of my eye. Not 10 mins later she was swallowing it. Some like the dance of the dead, some don't. I just happen to think Mila was smart enough to know the work had been done for her and she just moved in on it. She'd just look at me with a puzzled expression when I dangled it like, "What are you doing? Just set it down!" Just make sure the prey item is warm and dry. It may or may not work for you, but what the hell? Give it a try! It was dark when I fed her too.

If you feed a live prey item while trying to convert to f/t, you'll have a hell of a hard time making the switch.