live to f/t

[mako]

i have been feeding live for 2 years and the prey is getting bigger so i want to switch to f/t but my snake wont eat it. ive tried about 3 times know but just no luck. any suggestions

[redtailboas]

Here is a care guide I wrote specifically to cover the aspects of Feeding Prekilled vs. Live and how to switch to frozen thawed.
Look for the section titled "How to convert to a pre-killed feeder. "

Check it out here.

http://www.redtailboas.com/frozen_thawed/frozen_thawed.html

[mako]

clay, i will start next feeding. thank you for your help

[drthsideous]

Mako,
This might be in clay's article, I read it a while ago and can't remember it too clearly. But to get my boa from live to frozen thawed. I did this. ( my boa wouldn't eat anything that wasn't live). The first time i fed her with intent to convert I took a live mouse and dangled it in front of her, just as she was about to strike it I took it out and killed it, then placed it back in front of her and she struck it and constricted it. After she loosened up a bit she looked at it for a while but then eventually ate it. I did this for three feedings, worked everytime. Then i tried feeding her a frozen thawed small rat, I thawed it in cold water for an hour then warm water for 15 min, and then really hot water just for about half a min. I held that rat by the tail with my tongs and dangled it in front of her and she jumped on it. Infact i have never seen her go after anything that fast before or since then. It all worked out well.
jeff

[smiley]

what's the saying - patience and persistance?

all snakes are different. my first boa immediatly switched to f/t after about 2 years of live mice. no trouble at all. my new boa is about 1 year old now - and she still usually won't eat f/t on her own... i have to grab it make it "act" alive. she's getting better though... just a little more picky. keep at it - your boa will eventually learn!