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Switching Ball Pythons from ASF's to Rats (Myth buster)

Ultimate Pythons

Ultimate Pythons

Ball Python Breeder
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Ok I thought I would post this here for those of you that have any doubt about switching ball pythons over to rats after they have been raised on ASF's. In all my cases they have switched over without any problems. sometimes it takes a little more patience than other times but eventually they all switch over. This is a link to a video I made for an individual that purchased my Snow ball and wanted to see if she would take rat pups. Here ya go.

http://youtu.be/qbyilU9hv60
 
That some BPs prefer ASFs to rats is certainly not a myth - I have had some that took several years to finally take a rat on their own (and even then, it wasn't necessarily a permanent change)....though the ASF feeders would usually take mice or gerbils, as well. By the same token, I have kept a few BPs that would simply not touch an ASF
 
hhmoore said:
That some BPs prefer ASFs to rats is certainly not a myth - I have had some that took several years to finally take a rat on their own (and even then, it wasn't necessarily a permanent change)....though the ASF feeders would usually take mice or gerbils, as well. By the same token, I have kept a few BPs that would simply not touch an ASF
Click to expand...

It is definitely true that ball pythons prefer ASF's over rats. As I stated in the video when switching my adults it wasn't as easy of a task, but they all did switch sooner or later. As everyone knows there are always going to be those picky eaters out there. The main piont here is to let those that have been scared to buy hatchlings because they have been feeding on asf's instead of rats that they can be switched.
 
They can usually be switched; but I have concerns over trying to downplay prey preferences to people that may not be experienced in dealing with them.
While it is generally true that younger BPs switch more easily - and there will be some (of any age) that are just strong feeders and will eat whatever you throw at them - there are many that want what they want....and if the new owner is unable to provide it, the snake will not eat. It doesn't matter whether the desired prey item is ASFs, mice, or rats. Purchasing (or otherwise acquiring) a BP that has been maintained on a prey item that the buyer doesn't have available can be a risk; and it is one that should be fully considered.
 
hhmoore said:
They can usually be switched; but I have concerns over trying to downplay prey preferences to people that may not be experienced in dealing with them.
While it is generally true that younger BPs switch more easily - and there will be some (of any age) that are just strong feeders and will eat whatever you throw at them - there are many that want what they want....and if the new owner is unable to provide it, the snake will not eat. It doesn't matter whether the desired prey item is ASFs, mice, or rats. Purchasing (or otherwise acquiring) a BP that has been maintained on a prey item that the buyer doesn't have available can be a risk; and it is one that should be fully considered.
Click to expand...

I will agree with that. I think that having the individual try to feed a rat pup to the hatchling before they buy is a great way to asure that it will take rats. That away they are covering themselves. Luckily I have never had a ball python ever refuse to switch over to mice or rats.
 
I have more problems with my micers switching then I do the ones I feed ASF's. Again some are garbage dumps and will eat anything, but most will switch between rats and asfs freely. I don't feed exclusively ASFs to any snake but they have all (except my 2 micers) eaten them at times.
 
I got an adult female that was an asf and mouse eater. I was told she wouldn't take rats but she ate a scented one two days after I got her and is now eating small- medium regular rats just fine. Some are easier than others to switch, I'm also beginning to suspect differences in housing affect their willingness to eat or switch to new food. I get a lot of snakes that are off feed or stubborn eaters/ addicted to one food type and after keeping them very warm and quiet for a week or two most take whatever I offer them. Of all the snakes I've had the only one that remained difficult was my original bp who I got as a wc adult. She wouldn't take anything at all for the first 6 months i had her then ate gerbils but she eventually switched to mice then rats and now she eats f/t large rats like a champ, only problem with her is that there's nothing in the world you can do that will get her to eat more often than 2-3 months out of the year. She still manages to be a nice plump 3,000g girl even with her strange eating habits lol.
 
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