Any Breeders That Feed F/T to their hatchlings?

[thefnshow66]

So I'm interested in buying another Ball Python but i want a morph this time. I'm set on either getting a Spider or a Pinstripe but every time i go to kingsnake.com, i find these morphs to be well priced but all the breeders feed them live. I only have real access to frozen so i was just curious if anyone would happen to know a breeder that feeds frozen so i don't have to convert a hatchling over. I hear it can be a pain to do so and I'm scared of the snake not eating and starving himself to death

[darkangel]

It really is not that hard... If you have some patience. I got Jamie's stubborn Granite hatchling girl who has refused f/t for over a year by moving the f/t in a different way... Instead of dangling it above her head, moving it back and forth on ground in front of her like live prey. Of course I'm not saying it takes that long!! You just have to try different methods, there's a possibility you may have to feed live a few times. Be persistent and the switch should happen. If they keep refusing rats, you could try mice instead. There's a lot of different things to try. They're not going to immediately starve to death. Hunger is quite a motivator!!

[Tosha_Mc]

Most of my hatchlings start out on f/t rat pups some on f/t hopper or wean mice without problems. I have one stubborn albino that isn't converting but of my cbb all of them have taken f/t by at least their third meal. If you are buying a hatchling most convert very readily to f/t.

[cinderbird]

You can always e-mail the breeder and ask them to switch it for you, or at least make sure it will take the preferred prey type before you buy. Some breeders will do this, not all, but it never hurts to ask

[yfz450racer74]

I can usually get all of my babies eating F/T by their 3rd or 4th meal everynow and then ill get a stubborn one like tosha was saying thatll be a little harder to switch over but not that often. the trick is getting them to switch at a younger age than when their around 6 months. thats when it can be a hassle.

[stormwulf133]

I am getting a couple of het pieds from someone, he said he would try to make the switch for me. Just ask, some breeders will do it.

[thefnshow66]

I found a breeder that said he would try to get one of his baby pinstripes to eat a frozen hopper but then i find other breeders selling their pins for 50 dollars cheaper. Should i just go for it and buy one and just hope and pray he takes a f/t?

[kc261]

I would not worry about $50 in the price of a pinstripe.

For one thing, a breeder who is willing to try to switch the snake over to f/t sounds like one I would like to do business with.

But also, you want to get a pinstripe that you like the looks of. That would be most important to me.

If you like the looks of one and that breeder isn't willing to try to make the switch for you, then yes, I'd just go for it and hope you can get it switched over. That is assuming you feel ok about the breeder otherwise.

[JenH]

Mine are all taking f/t after 3 to 4 live hopper/small mice. I have had real good luck switching snakes under a year to f/t. All except my male bee - I think he is a bit slow....

Adults on the otherhand are a bit harder. I've only gotten two girls to switch over.... But honestly I haven't pushed too hard, most are girls and I want them to gain weight....

[thefnshow66]

well i started to e-mail the breeders about trying to see if they can convert their pinstripes to f/t. All of them said they would do it for me but with a deposit first except for one. This breeder said he would do it without requiring a deposit and it wouldn't be a problem, he actually said he would guarenttee it. I thought, wow, this guy has the lowest price included with the shipping and he would convert the snake form Live to f/t. Wish me luck eveything turns out as plans . thanks for all your input!!