Switching to F/T

Bunny · #1 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008, 06:49 PM

I have 9 snakes and two of them refuse anything but live mice. They are my 06 male Jungle Carpet Python and my 06 male BP. I have tried F/T mice and rats with both of them and neither will touch them. I have tried jiggling them in front of them. Lying the dead rodent in their coils, leaving the dead rodent overnight and still nothing. If I could switch them over to Dead rats it would be obviously safer for them but also less expensive for me as the JCP is eating four live adult mice each week and the BP is eating three live mice each week which costs me $14.00 per week just for these two snakes where frozen rats I could get for half that price. Any advice?

LukaTisus · #2 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008, 07:39 PM

There's plenty of threads, with plenty of advice to choose from on how to switch to F/T.

Personally, the most effective method I've found, has been the one I found on ProExotics' website, which I used to switch a few of my snakes over so far that'd been fed exclusively on mice. (Province I got them from has banned live rats).

Anyway, start with a smaller-than-normal meal, a live fuzzy mouse should be small enough for '06 snakes, and have an appropriate-sized, or slightly smaller f/t rat ready, and when the snake starts to eat it, very gently ease the tip of the nose of the f/t rat, in behind the mouse as the snake takes those last few bites. If you don't spook the snake, they should automatically continue eating the rat.

This way, the snake has an appropriate meal in it, so you won't need those extra five mice.

Also, in my personal experience, repeat this step for about four or five feedings, and then for the sixth, offer a f/t rat. So far, I've found the snake snaps up the rat without hesitation, it takes patience of course, but it's been pretty effective for me so far.

Just make sure the mouse is quite small, so it won't put too much stress on the snake's digestive system with the rat in there as well. So far, I haven't had a problem with this method, and have used it for three of my ball pythons, one of which was a terribly stubborn one to get to take anything, mind you. Now he's snapping them up without hesitation.

TKR Reptiles · #3 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008, 10:38 PM

well for starters let them go a while without eating. my BP was stubborn to get to switch. i just let her go a month without eating until she got hungry enough to eat. plus you may already know this but its better to feed them one prey item each feeding instead of 2 or more. and try to limit the feeding to once a week at the most. just let em go a while and get their tummies rumbling and they should go for it. have you tried braining?

Bunny · #4 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008, 04:19 PM

Thanks for the tips. I have not tried braining and really wanted to wait to do this as a last resort just because it is gross : ) I will need to find a place to get live fuzzy's as my three LPS only sell frozen, I will hit the phone book and see if I can find some somewhere. I do not mind letting the JCP get a little hungry for a few weeks but am afraid to let my BP go hungry because he went off feed this winter and only began feeding again three weeks ago.

louise · #5 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008, 04:22 PM

how to switch to frozen thawed

TKR Reptiles · #6 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunny

Thanks for the tips. I have not tried braining and really wanted to wait to do this as a last resort just because it is gross : ) I will need to find a place to get live fuzzy's as my three LPS only sell frozen, I will hit the phone book and see if I can find some somewhere. I do not mind letting the JCP get a little hungry for a few weeks but am afraid to let my BP go hungry because he went off feed this winter and only began feeding again three weeks ago.

its honestly no big deal to let a BP go a while without eating. mine has gone as long as 5 weeks with out wanting to eat. and several times has gone 3 and 4 weeks. just let your BP get nice and hungry before offering food. next time you feed if your going to off p/k put the rats in the room for 30 to 60 min before killing and offering them. if feeding f/t let the rat thaw in the room and leave it in there for a while to get the feeding response going. that way you're not just waking it up by putting a rat in its face.

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