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#2088038
Carexporter1
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Switching to F/T 
Can someone tell me the best way to get my RTB started on f/t. I’ve tried it before and he wouldn’t take it, but it turned out he was just about to shed. Any tips will be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Rich
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10/23/09 09:14pm
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#2088072
ReptileJay
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Message To: Carexporter1 In reference to Message Id: 2088038
Switching to F/T
Most snakes will switch pretty easily. You can do a couple of different things. First, make sure the rodent is warm (don’t microwave or cook it). Heat it up in warm water. Second, use tongs. Its easier for you to tease the snake from a short distance, than trying to do it with your hand on the mouse. Put the rodent about an inch from his face and then pull it back and push it back toward him again. Keep doing this until he strikes. You can (last resort) lightly tap him in the nose with the frozen thawed. This will usually get him to strike. Sometimes you might have to let the snake skip a meal or two. Eventually they get hungry enough to eat the f/t. If he won’t take the f/t and he eats every week, miss that week and try again the next. This is usually the best way to get a snake that won’t take f/t to switch. I wouldn’t suggest skipping more than two meals. If he won’t take the f/t after two skipped feedings, offer him live and then try again with the f/t the next time. Usually after they eat one they will continue to eat. Good luck and good choice.
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10/23/09 11:28pm
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#2088084
Carexporter1
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Message To: ReptileJay In reference to Message Id: 2088072
Switching to F/T
Thanks for the advice!! Tomorrow is feeding day, I’ll let you know how it goes.
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10/24/09 12:08am
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#2088114
ReptileJay
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Message To: Carexporter1 In reference to Message Id: 2088084
Switching to F/T
Awesome. Keep us updated. switching to f/t is the best decision you can make. It can also be frustrating to do it. My son is now trying to get his 1.5-2 yr old ball python on f/t. Its been a pain. he’s taking the approach of starving him out. he’s been known to go two weeks without food normally, so he’s on week 2 now. He said he’s giving him a month, and then he’s gonna buy him a live and try again. Just stick with it. Remember, you’re in charge. Starve him out if you have too. As long as he’s not losing weight and not becoming lethargic, its cool. If you notice he seems thin, he’s not drinking and not moving much, then its time to give up and feed live and try again another time. Boas, from what I understand, are pretty easy to switch. I switched mine when I got him, but he was a little guy and the difference between a live fuzzy and a dead one is hardly noticeable.
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10/24/09 03:18am
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#2088126
Fairy Frog Mother
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Message To: ReptileJay In reference to Message Id: 2088114
Switching to F/T
Ball pythons are notorious for being difficult to switch.
I have also left the frozen thawed rat in my snakes enclosure and let them have privacy when the moving the mouse a little didnt work.
Good luck and hope it switches easy for you!
Really, I agree. Its healthiest because you wont have to worry bout injury or parasites from Live prey items.
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10/24/09 06:14am
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#2088257
ReptileJay
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Message To: Fairy Frog Mother In reference to Message Id: 2088126
Switching to F/T
Yeah, I have a Tangerine Honduran Milk that refused to eat f/t. I eventually put the thawed pinky under his hide and then took him and coaxed him into his hide as well. A few hours later he had eaten it. He had been starved out for two weeks before hand. The only thing that sucks is I have to do it every time now. He won’t take the f/t unless it is in his hide. Tongs don’t work, and if I leave it somewhere else in the cage, he won’t touch it. But at least he eats.
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10/24/09 04:13pm
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#2088406
ReptileJay
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Message To: ReptileJay In reference to Message Id: 2088257
Switching to F/T
Oh, I also forgot to mention. If you can’t get him to take f/t, try pre-killed. I’ve talked to a lot of people that switched from live to f/t that had to add in the step of freshly (I mean like seconds before you offer it) killed and then once they started feeding on that, they switched to f/t without a problem. Good luck.
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10/25/09 02:54am
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#2088571
Carexporter1
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Message To: ReptileJay In reference to Message Id: 2088406
Switching to F/T
Well I tried f/t yesterday, and he took it like a champ!! It took about 5 minutes for him to take it, but then I had to give him some privacy while eating. Never had to have privacy for live though. Thanks for the tips, it is GREATLY APPRECIATED.
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10/25/09 07:15pm
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#2088581
ReptileJay
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Message To: Carexporter1 In reference to Message Id: 2088571
Switching to F/T
That’s awesome. I have to give mine privacy as well. He doesn’t like me staring at him.
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10/25/09 07:46pm
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#2088776
Fairy Frog Mother
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Message To: ReptileJay In reference to Message Id: 2088581
Switching to F/T
My male snake doesnt care, he will chow down in front of whomever, whenever...
My female on the other hand went through a period of about 6 months where she wouldnt eat when shes being watched. Now...she doesnt give a hoot and eats just as readily as he does. Course they are both growing like weeds~
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10/26/09 02:18pm
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#2088855
ReptileJay
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Message To: Fairy Frog Mother In reference to Message Id: 2088776
Switching to F/T
Mine will eat in front of me, he just goes really really slow. If I leave he’s done in about 3-5 minutes. If I sit and watch, it takes 20 minutes. So, I give him his privacy, because I don’t feel like sitting there for 20 minutes.
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10/26/09 07:35pm
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