New balls ate F/T{ still have a ??}

[abster82]

Well we finally got our ball pythons on Saturday the 19th they are soooo cute 4 female lemon pastels. Two are from Bob and two are from Mike all are doing great and seem tame. Mikes have already been taken out of their cages due to making messes. I only handled them long enough to put them in a holding container and back in the enclosures. Today we attempted our first feedings and everything seemed to go good. The 2 from Bob and one from Mike ate F/T small rats no problem and one is still unsure about hers. My main question is how long {hours} should I leave a F/T rat in her cage. Its been since around noon today I was thinking maybe she won’t eat till night. Any advice would be great. I will post some pics when I get a chance.

[Adam]

Well my snakes wont eat frozen thawed if i just leave it on the ground for them, and when they refuse a meal, i usualy dont try to feed them for another week or so. the longer it is in the worse the smell.lol

[abster82]

I understand the smell part. she seems to flick her tongue near it so I think she may want to try, but I don't know. Two of them took them off the cage floor I was shocked. I was considering letting her have it until the morning is that to long??? I wonder if she is a night time feeder.

[Adam]

try dangling in front of her, that always works

[abster82]

I'll try one more time tonite.

[Adam]

try again next week or tomorrow or whenever, if you feel she really needs to eat that bad id try tomorrow or sat or sun, if she is nice and fat id try back next week

[abster82]

cool thanks. I'll dangle the one she has and after that give her a break for a few days.

[abster82]

can I turn her daylight back on just so I can find the rat in the back of the cage?

[TommyD.]

With my experience I have had a hard time switching balls over to f/t once they are on live it' hard to switch. But you can follow up feeding live with f/t then you can usually get them to switch over that way or at least that's what I have had the best experience with.

[damianthesnakeman]

try dangling it in front of her hide box with just enough light so you can see what you are doing and make sure it is a little warmer than your hand that always works on my ball python

[abster82]

I did the dangle in front of the hide and she had it in the dark for 3.5 hrs. I just took it out the room really was starting to stink.

[abster82]

I was so happy that 3 took the F/T that was luck... I can get a feeder from work on Saturday I guess. Shes 548 Grams now.

[damianthesnakeman]

oh well if nothing else time usually gets them to eat so just be patient

[abster82]

I will. I guess seeing the other 3 just made me so happy I was hoping to get 4 out of 4 but hey that would be to perfect.

[Gib]

I would Just wait a week adn offer her FT again...

Missing one meal wont hurt her any...She will just be Hungrier next time ya try....LOL


And if she still doesnt take it then...try the "Bait adn Switch"

Show her a live mouse(or whatever prey item your feeding)

Just dangle it out of reach...you should know asap if shes gonna take it.....get some good feed response goin then offer the F/T instead...

Works like a charm once ya get the timing right...LOL and ive never had one yet that wouldnt switch that way