My ball python eating his first prekilled rat 5-13-03

Mine are still on mice. Are you saying that they'll go into a growth spurt after switching to rats?

Never even knew about D&Js. I gotta swing on over there to check them out. I posted some pics of mine. I've had him/her? since September. Has gotten thicker, but not much longer. What part of LI are you at?

Yeah I'm glad I did this because I want to get my little shelas to grow big for this winter this will be my first year breeding and I am very excited yay!

I live in North Babylon. I get my rats from D&J, they are great over there very clean. Exit 29N off the SS parkway. drive up rt. 107 for about 2 min. its on your left next to Island rec. pool supply. Check it out...if you are hungry stop at pizza cove for some great pizza...

Thanks. I'm goin over there this wknd. Been really itchn to get a Emerald Boa and build my 1st enclosure myself. Tanks are a pain. I have 2 tanks with 3 snakes. The BP in a 55 and a ribbon and a corn in a 30 tall.

How do you guys thaw your rats/mice. Right now i just feed my ball prekilled large mice.

I fill my sink with hot water and throw em in..

Personally, I place mine on a countertop and let them thaw/warm up to room temperature, then I run them under warm water for about 5-10 mninutes, just to give that "freshly killed" warmth that they like.

Yeah right now I just throw them in hot water also putting them under a heat lamp works pretty good but you have to watch out not to burn the mouse the results arent pretty.

Or you can buy live rats and kill em just before feeding time..

That works too I have tried all different techniques with feeding and i have never had trouble so whatever is easier at the time I use.

The only problem with buying and killing is that the parasites that the rat or mouse carry still thrive on the rodent even though it is dead. When you feed frozen, all the parasites are gone. There is a less likely chance that the snake will catch the parasites that the rodent has. Even though you cannot see the rodents parasites, they will still be there.

VERY GOOD POINT

Yeah that is a very good point I didn't know that thanks for the info.

I checked out D&Js today. Really clean and knowledgeable herp people. I talked myself into getting a rat for my baby. I stunned it and it took care of the rest. It looks really happy after eating it and I almost didn't think it could do it.

Good job yeah I never put snake in there alive I always stun them.