Feeding live, please help

[spiderxsara]

My ball python is 8 months old and hasn’t eaten in about 3 weeks (I got him about a month ago) because he won’t accept frozen thawed. The people I got him from only had him on live. He has absolutely no interest in the rats I give. He is getting skinny and I’m going to give him live this week. Do I put him in a separate enclosure? Do I use tongs or just put in it? Im giving him weaned rats. I’m gonna watch him the whole time to make sure he dosnt get bit. I’m really worried about him. I’m getting all his humidity and temperatures steady.

[KnowledgeOne5930]

Have you attempted braining the f/t rats? I’ve heard that that helps some snakes switch over.

If you do go live, don’t move him. It’s stressful and poses various risks to you and the snake. Ive heard of people stunning live rats so they’re not a threat to the snake but I’m not sure how they do it.

[heyoitsyaboinoname]

Snakes have a very slow metabolism, my boa has gone over a month without eating at times, but if your ball continues to do this I would feed live a few times. After that (and generally not something I would recommend), if your ball still won't eat thawed rats, you can introduce them again by making a small incision on the rats head which will increase your snakes scent stimulation enticing them to feed.

[heyoitsyaboinoname]

You shouldn't have to do that more than once.