F/T vs Live feeding

[OneEyedFox]

So I have recently switched from live to f/t mostly because of cost, and because feeding live makes my boyfriend squeamish, he feeds his BP f/t. Well I have always been a huge advocate for live feeding because it keeps her hunting instincts going, and it's like eating fresh food vs frozen food for yourself. My roommate has been shaming me ever since I switched to f/t, but I know there are many good things about feeding f/t, many breeders do it, and I've been told many times it's better for the animal. I'd really like to see some more facts about it, live as well. Which do you guys feed your animals, and why? I'd love to see the ups and downs of both methods.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Feed what works for you and your animals, what is convinient, feed based on experience and knowledge not the ignorance.

I feed Live and I feed F/T, I feed mice and I feed rats, depends on the species and or the specific animal, also depends on feeder production (I breed my own). Both can be done and both meets the nutritional requirements of your animal which is all that matter.

Bottom line do what works.

[highqualityballz]

F/t pros cheaper, can keep hundreds in freezer, eliminates any rodent bites, dont have to care for live feeders, no smell, can literally feed whenever you want.

F/t cons- not all snakes are interested, shippings pretty expensive.

Live pros- sometimes better feeding response, dont have to defrost rodents, can breed your own.

Live cons- chance of bites, smell, more expensive than frozen, have to go out and buy weekly, store might be close, store might be sold out of the sizes i need.

I have a couple live eater snakes that arent interested in f/t yet but actually just started taking p/k

These pros and cons are just my opinions and are the pros and cons for me, thought i should say this before the live feeder lovers get all butthurt!!

[OneEyedFox]

F/t pros cheaper, can keep hundreds in freezer, eliminates any rodent bites, dont have to care for live feeders, no smell, can literally feed whenever you want.

F/t cons- not all snakes are interested, shippings pretty expensive.

Live pros- sometimes better feeding response, dont have to defrost rodents, can breed your own.

Live cons- chance of bites, smell, more expensive than frozen, have to go out and buy weekly, store might be close, store might be sold out of the sizes i need.

I have a couple live eater snakes that arent interested in f/t yet but actually just started taking p/k

These pros and cons are just my opinions and are the pros and cons for me, thought i should say this before the live feeder lovers get all butthurt!!

Thank you!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CALM Pythons]

I feed fresh kill. I gas the rodent for 15 sec and then toss them into the enclosures. Its safer for my snakes (rodent bites) and they still get fresh feed. I do not like the thawing process or the problems with expanding gases and exploding guts from stomachs when wet thawed food is getting squeezed. Just my 2cents.

[predatorkeeper87]

I feed fresh kill. I gas the rodent for 15 sec and then toss them into the enclosures. Its safer for my snakes (rodent bites) and they still get fresh feed. I do not like the thawing process or the problems with expanding gases and exploding guts from stomachs when wet thawed food is getting squeezed. Just my 2cents.

so when you say you gas them for 15 seconds is that enough to actually kill them or are they just so anesthetized that they are basically comatose? I'd like to do this vs. cervical dislocation or anything for my snakes but wasn't sure how to go about it. You use CO2 I would assume yes?

[Reinz]

I held out on switching for the same reasons you did Fox.

But when my BP experienced some bites I saw that I could not always be quick enough to prevent injury to my snakes, so I decided to switch to frozen.

I am sooo glad I did. Much easier now and I'm saving a lot of money too!

- - - Updated - - -

so when you say you gas them for 15 seconds is that enough to actually kill them or are they just so anesthetized that they are basically comatose? I'd like to do this vs. cervical dislocation or anything for my snakes but wasn't sure how to go about it. You use CO2 I would assume yes?

Yes, CO2 is commonly used.

[zina10]

I feed frozen thawed and never encountered gasses and gut explosions.

I have to say, I certainly NEVER want to, LOL !!!! ew..