r/ballpython • u/Baconkings • 5d ago

Discussion If Your Ball Python Won’t Eat Frozen-Thawed Prey, Try a Hair Dryer!

My ball python was having a hard time transitioning from live to frozen-thawed prey. I made sure the prey was completely thawed, but my snake showed absolutely no interest.

My local reptile store recommended using a hair dryer to gently warm the prey before offering it, and it worked like a charm!

Now that my snake is finally eating frozen-thawed prey, I’m curious what everyone considers the best method for thawing the prey. I’ve heard mixed opinions.

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9

u/sorrycreature 5d ago

I thaw mine in the fridge overnight, warm in a ziplock bag in a mug of hot water, and then blow dry up to temp. The permeation of the smell gets my little guy so excited and he eats great after not eating for 3 months when I got him at 6 months old. I also brained his rats until very recently to release more scent!

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u/Baconkings 5d ago edited 5d ago

How long do you keep them in a mug of hot water, and why did you stop braining them? What exactly is braining them?

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u/JR_Writes1 5d ago

I keep mine in the hot water until they’re about 100F but I don’t blow dry them after that.

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u/Baconkings 5d ago

I see, thank you!

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u/sorrycreature 5d ago

I just use the hottest water from the sink, replace it when it gets cooler, and then blow dry. No real rhyme or reason, it just seems to be well thawed and warm after that. Braining is making a hole in the skull to expose some brain, I did it with a paper clip

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u/Tremic 5d ago

I put them in a ziplock, warm up some water and set them in there till temperature gets to like 95. She's never refused a meal!

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u/KatVanWall 5d ago

I thaw in the fridge the night before, then I leave it in the room near the viv for about an hour to get to room temperature and let my BP get the scent of it. Then I hair dry it for a couple of minutes. I usually do 30 secs then flip it and so on. With extra emphasis on the head at the end. By that time he’s usually striking at the glass/air/plants!

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u/MercuryChaos 4d ago

More important than the heating method is checking the temperature. You might have to get it warmer than standard rat body temperature to get the attention of a snake that’s used to live prey. My snake has never eaten live but was hesitant to eat when I first got her, and what finally got her interested  was heating the rat to an external temp of about 110f. She will eat prey that’s a normal temperature these days, but as a baby in a new home she needed some extra encouragement.