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Switching from live food to f/t?

tradernick

Just another Florida guy
Anyone have any experience with this? How difficult is it to switch snakes from live to f/t food? I'm sure each animal is different but generally speaking is it REALLY hard or are some snakes not that picky?
NIck
 
I've never had to do it (so I'll leave the advice part to those who have), but I'd suggest getting a pair of salad tongs to wiggle the mouse around with. For no other reason than it's kind of fun.
 
LOL ok. Do you add sound effects or voices when you're wiggling it? Something like "Luke I'm your father", or "hey batterbatterbatter". I mean, we gotta have fun, right?
 
Heat it up in warm water and wiggle it around so you get a strike and constrict response. You can also grab the tail and (gently) play tug of war using the tail, and make squeaking noises, not that it'll matter of course, LOL. But you said you wanted fun :p
 
LOL ok. Do you add sound effects or voices when you're wiggling it? Something like "Luke I'm your father", or "hey batterbatterbatter". I mean, we gotta have fun, right?

I do a commentary, like it was a hockey game. "Ooo, and it's around the corner! Amel boy makes the lunge and IT'S A MISS! Whoever signed this rookie should be fired!"
 
huh...guess I did it wrong ;)

My king was only fed live by the breeder. I just heated his mouse up nice and hot, threw it in with him and covered him up. He refused a couple of times and I had to bribe him with live since he's quite little and was loosing weight. Now he eats f/t without issue. I still cover him up if I need to be in the room longer, otherwise I leave him uncovered and just leave the room, come back later and no more mouse.

Best of luck,
 
I switched my first snake from live to f/t and it wasn't difficult, but she was quite young and still eating pinkies. I doubt there's a lot of difference between a live and a dead pinky. The first time I offered it, she refused. I made sure it was quite warm the second time and she eventually took it. I had used pliers to make it "tremble" a little on paper to let her know it was there and she became interested quickly.
 
As you said, it depends on the snake. My ball python, for instance, is like a two year old child and will only eat live, white mice. Not f/t, not brown or spotted, just white. :shrugs:

But our corn will eat live, f/t, probably my right shoe if I offered. In my expiercence, corns will pretty much eat anything that you offer them; so I wouldn't worry.

And if they are picky, heat that f/t mouse up, but not in the microwave! And wiggle it around with a pair of chopsticks if needed.
 
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