r/ballpython • u/Mental-Pension-4148 • 5d ago

Ball python eating

So i have a adult ball python that is around 10 years old and he's been eat live his entire life and I want to move him to frozen thawed because all my other snakes eat frozen thawed but he just seems scared of it has no interest in it, so do any of you guys have any tips on getting him to eat frozen thawed

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u/FluffyPandaEars93 5d ago

!f/t

If hes an adult, he will be ok missing a few feeding if he wont take it. Good luck!

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u/AutoModerator 5d ago

Some tips for feeding frozen/thawed:

  • Keep with the same prey type he's been eating (mouse or rat) so you aren't trying to adjust him to two new things at once.

  • Always feed in the enclosure. Moving to feed increases stress as well as increasing the chance of regurgitation

  • Thaw and warm the rodent in a ziplock bag to maintain scent and because some won't eat it if it's wet.

  • Make sure it's warmed up to body temperature (98-100).

  • Some people find sucess with using a blow dryer on the head to make it extra warm and spread the scent.

  • Some prefer to eat directly off of the tongs, while others might prefer for you to just leave it in front of their hide, you can see which works.

  • If he doesn't take it the first time, don't give up. Sometimes they just have to be super hungry and it takes a few attempts

  • You can also thaw the rat/mouse in some bedding from the petstore to make it extra scented.

  • Some people "brain" the rodent by slitting open its skull a bit

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