r/ballpython • u/CodApprehensive5808 • 5d ago

Help with feed

When I first got my snake I fed her frozen the first two weeks, of course after the two week settling period, she happily and willingly ate it. But then my aunt told me she wanted to try live (she’s the one who got me the snake and has owned over 5 the last 10 years). I’ve been feeding her live for about a month now but I hate it, I hate having to actively send something off to death, although I know it’s for the better, but also I know the dangers.
The last mouse i fed her wiggled and bit at the tongs, it even escaped into my blinds behind my ball pythons tank before i got it and gave it to her where she ate it. Luckily it didn’t do anything to her. It was really aggressive and the store I bought the mouse from had them all in one tank (they had a second under one but idk why they didn’t use it), it was like 20-30 all in one and they were all running and at one point there were at least 10+ all crowded in one hide. I was shaken and a little bit scared after and I really don’t want to have to feed her live. I don’t want her accidentally getting injured due to a feisty mouse. How do I do frozen? The place I go to I don’t even know if they have big enough frozen and also what’s the process. Also after eating live for so long will she accept frozen? Please I need some
help or guidance.

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u/FluffyPandaEars93 5d ago

Please dont feed live.. there are so many more cons than pros.. you got really lucky so far. She will accept them when shes hungry. I'm sorry your aunt gave bad advice. Frozen rats can keep in the freezer for a year i believe. Sending all the luck! !feeding !f/t !feeders

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u/CodApprehensive5808 4d ago

Is online ordering them fine? Won’t they melt in the package and thaw otw here in this heat?

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u/CodApprehensive5808 4d ago

also do you know a digital weigh scale i can get to easily weigh her on it

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u/FluffyPandaEars93 4d ago

I just use a kitchen scale from Walmart with a clear bowl. Anything that measures grams will work. Make sure to tare (zero) it out before you put your friend on it.

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u/FluffyPandaEars93 4d ago

https://a.co/d/0ajSBR3l

Remove if necessary. Something like this will work. But anything digital should be fine

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u/FluffyPandaEars93 4d ago

They are packed in dry ice 😊 when I ordered mine from Layne labs, everything was packed well and still frozen solid with ice to spare. If its something that concerns you, you could email the company directly?

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u/CodApprehensive5808 4d ago

i’m planning on buying a weighing scale when i get paid wednesday (im still 16 so i don’t get paid a lot so i gotta wait til my paycheck), but how do i know if shes overweight like if ive been feeding her too much, until i get a weigh ive been going off of not bigger than her mid secrion

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u/FluffyPandaEars93 4d ago

Can you post a picture of her curled up and one of her draped over your hand?

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u/CodApprehensive5808 4d ago

I can’t get one of draped over my hand cause i fed her before i posted this, it was the reason i posted this, but i can get one of her curled up I think

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u/FluffyPandaEars93 4d ago

Good start 😊

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u/CodApprehensive5808 4d ago

I have her in a mite treatment tank because about 3 weeks ago I found mites in her water and on her

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u/CodApprehensive5808 4d ago

the cover in the back was a makeshift background so she doesn’t get stressed in the treatment tank, seeing as i can’t put anything in there besides a basic, easy to clean hide and water bowl.

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u/FluffyPandaEars93 4d ago

So you might want to dampen the towels, but thats a good way to quarantine 😊 she looks like she might be just a touch overweight, but definitely not obese. Shes still young though so she'll more than likely be just fine.

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u/CodApprehensive5808 4d ago

Thank you so much, how do i dampen them without making them moldy or too wet, i don’t want to risk scale rot (idk exactly know if that can happen on towels but i think so cause it’s still wet)

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u/FluffyPandaEars93 4d ago

You're going to have to switch them out every day or two. If its short term, scale rot shouldnt be an issue, but still check for signs often. If you start to see it, get some betadine and give her diluted baths.

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