This ball I am fostering has been eating live prey for 5 years. Any chance I could convert her over? What are the chances?
2006-08-15 03:22:51 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
I dont know why so many people are saying you have no chance changeing over and that one comment about "letting the snake continue its natural diet" is just a load of crap.
Pre killed is like the happy medium between frozen and live. All of my animals at home take P/K prey for there safty and my sanity.
Balls can be tricky but definatly not impossible.. Take the rat by the tail and swing it hard as all hell against a wall or hard surface.. Immediatly after you start seeing his legs go all crazy place the rat in front of your ball python.. close the lid of whatever you feeding him in and go away for a while.. if you come back and he still hasnt eatin then put the rat in the freezer because im sure youll have him on frozen food in no time.
If the first option failed then heres a second try..
get to food items that are aomewhat smaller then you would usually feed your snake. feed the first one live and after the ball finishes swallowing the first one throw the second rat in P/K like you tryed on your first attempt... if he takes the p/k one then repeate this same step for a few weeks and then try offering just prekilled again..
theres a few other tips but my wrist hurts from typeing so let me know if in a few weeks you havent had any luck.
balls are notoriously difficult but NOT IMPOSSIBLE whoever says they are dont have much experience at all and have no buissnes even giving advice
2006-08-15 05:17:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
My friends get totally grossed out by this one....
Throw the frozen rat in the freezer. Your snake likes warm food. Make sure the rat is just warm, not hot. Then, do what the others here have suggested, and hold the rat by the tail (or with tongs) and wiggle it around a bit. The snake will sense the movement and the heat, and hopefully, eat.
I had two rainbow boas that were fed live food untill I got them (about 4 years old) and I converted them rather easily to frozen dinners. (don't have the heart to throw a poor little mouse in with them)
2006-08-15 10:21:48 · answer #2 · answered by nymphetamine1978 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Snakes don't have very good eye sight, so they depend on other senses to survive. Basically, they have heat vents on the side of their mouth that detects heat, they size up their prey based on how much heat it puts off and how big the 'shadow' of the prey is. If you put your hand in the tank, it's obviously too large for the snake to swallow, but a small rat, it's kinda like the cat/mouse theory...they like to kill whatever it is they eat. I don't think your chances are very high to accomplish a feat such as what you're trying...good luck though, and let me know how it turns out! I have an 8 ft. red tail boa....
2006-08-15 03:39:34 · answer #3 · answered by Shining Ray of Light 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have several that have converted, and others that haven't. It depends on the Ball.
The only way to find out is to try. If you feed every week, wait an extra week before you feed. Try to feed a fresh killed one first. If he takes it, try it a few more times before you try a frozen/thawed one. When you try the fresh killed, get a pair of tongs and grab it by the skin on the back of the neck. Dangle it on the floor and "pretend" it's alive in front of your snake. I get the best results right after sunset when they are sticking their head out of their hide. He may or may not strike depending on how hungry/picky he is.
Good luck!
2006-08-15 03:48:54 · answer #4 · answered by xyz_gd 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I tried with my ball python, after about the same time. It was a no go. The pet shop said he would eat when he was hungry enough. Yeah, right. 4 1/2 months later, still nothing. I couldn't go on. So, he of course nails that rat before it hit the bottom of the cage. Python wins!!!!
2006-08-15 03:29:25 · answer #5 · answered by shewolf 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
After you make sure the food is completely thawed out rub the food against a live mouse or rat. The smell will trick the snake.
2006-08-15 15:50:10 · answer #6 · answered by Reptile lover 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No chance of conversion, let the snake continue it's natural diet. After 5 yrs of consuming live prey, the pattern is ingrained, the natural instinct is set permanently.
Best wishes
2006-08-15 03:28:17 · answer #7 · answered by sunshine25 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
get frozen thaw it out get long tweezers and make it run around so it looks like its alive the snake will think this and eat it while its diging its fangs in make sure you keep it moving so it wont lose interest
2006-08-15 05:28:31 · answer #8 · answered by jax 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
get a gold retriever
2006-08-15 03:27:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋