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Balls behave quite well

With the proper care and conditions, I have had no problems with the feeding habits of my balls. There are a few males and females that fast during the winter months, but resume feeding in spring.
 
yeh but the first feeding of the fast is what drives me nuts. Here I am defrosting a nice rat, and the little brat doesn't wanna eat it. After that hey fine but darn it why couldn't you tell me you weren't hungry. LMAO
 
I've been very lucky. My BP is 2 years old now and has never refued a meal and eats all winter long. Even sheding doesn't stop him.
 
How old was your snake when thay first excepted f/t pray?If you got the snake from a breeder did he accept f/t pray his first feed?And if not how did you get him 2?

Thank you all:D
 
I wish I could help, but I raise my own rodents and 90% of the time they all eat fresh killed prey.

How old was your snake when thay first excepted f/t pray?
Click to expand...
I do have some balls that have taken p/k as thier 3rd or 4th meal.
 
Hi Zach, I usually attempt feeding my hatchlings f/t right after their first shed. I warm the defrosted rats and then leave them in front of their hide boxes at night. I check them 3-4 hrs later and a little over half of the clutch usually eats the first time.
For the ones who refuse the 1st time I try again every 4-5 days two more times. If this fails and dragging the defrosted rat around the enclosure fails then I will drop in a live rat pink and wait until it is eaten(up to an hour). Most of the time it only takes one and they are switched over the next time. I did have one male that had to be fed live numerous times until he switched and then he always wanted it moving around on tongs. He's a little better now.LOL
I have purchased 5 BP Hets from NERD and 1 from VPI all different ages and all ate a defrosted rat the very first time. Most "LIC" left in cage.
I do have two females who drive me crazy every spring but eventually they eat F/T without getting a live/fkilled. Shamrock was a wedding present from a pet store and the other one was purchased from someone who didn't understand how to care for her.
Take Care, Rob:D
 
I have a few that will not take anything dead. Its not the biggest deal, but I tend to feed them smaller prey and it is starting to show in thier growth.

I tried night feeding, dancing it around for them, and even warming the head slightly (rodents). none of which worked.
Its not so bad as I always have some just weened rats that cant bite badly yet.
 
I know about the Growth part. Shamrock had 6 eggs in 2000 and 5 last week while I was on Vacay. Eggs every 3 yrs isn't good from a breeder stand point. But she was my first BP and she's more of a pet. She seems to like being handled but I don't handle her alot because of her feeding probs. She pounds def rats when she's gravid. When she's not she prefers "really" defrosted brown rats. I can't remember her eating a white or black one unless she's gravid.
If I ever get really desperate I will give her a twice defrosted rat in the spring to get her started. I have used this tactic a couple of times and without ill effects. It's kind of gross but it gets her started and she will eat defrosted Brown, warmed rats moving around. But she will only eat every 3-4 wks and it drives me crazy. CRAZY.
I don't understand. I kept all her babies from the first clutch and all eat great.Oh Well.
The other one I still haven't figured out yet but she seems to be doing better. It seems she likes various sizes. Color doesn't matter. I just have to guess if she will be having a snack or a meal at feeding time. Aren't they Great? LOL
Later, Rob:D
 
ok thanx all,when you put the mouse/rat outside the hide do you dance it around or what?
 
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