Live feeding as a breeder

[ringorock]

I'm a rookie in this breeding thing, in the part where I am keeping a lot of snakes. Every breeder that I have spoken with has told me that they feed live, "throw the rat in because they don't have time for anything else." This leaves a real queezy feeling in my stomach, and I still spend time with each of my snake when feeding them live. Can someone tell me the right way to do this, or am I doing it right by feeding one by one making sure the rat is dazed and not hurting my snakes and trying to convert them to fresh kill?

Sigh. Just trying to keep my boys and girls safe.

[qwerty53]

Not every breeder. Its just that large ones breed rodents and its easier not to do extra step just give live also snakes eat live better. But you endanger your snake especially with big rats. If you have shy eaters especially. I few times left f/t rat overnight and saw its gone in the morning. But the snake wouldnt eat for the life of it in my presence

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I have fed well over 20000/25000 live preys (I stopped counting a good while ago) without any issues and yes feeding is time consuming when you have many animal to feed but it can still be done safely.

#1 do not stun or get the feeder in a daze this without a doubt will put your snake at risk, if you feel compel to do this then please DO NOT feed live.

The key to live feedings are

1# Pre-scent the room, put the feeders in the room 1 hour prior to feeding, this will entice the snake to eat.

2# Make sure your feeder is well fed and hydrated, this is very important when you buy feeders and do not know how they are kept, offer food and water while they are in the room (during the pre-scenting phase)

3# Feed an appropriate size prey without feeding anything larger than a small/medium rat even to the largest of your adult BP.....BP do not need large rats, I don't feed anything larger than a 150 grams rats to my animals and I have BP in the 3500/4000 grams range.

4# Do not stress your feeders, do not stun your feeders etc.

5# Open the snake enclosure drop feeder remove if uneaten after 10 min.

[ringorock]

Deborah, this is the answer that I have been looking for and no breeder has given me. Thank you a bunch! As easy as that sounds, it can be hard to figure out on my own. Lol. You were the one I secretly wished to appear in my thread, and here you are, my new breeding mentor! *Clings to leg and won't let go*

I'd buy you a beer right now of I could.

I have fed well over 20000/25000 live preys (I stopped counting a good while ago) without any issues and yes feeding is time consuming when you have many animal to feed but it can still be done safely.

#1 do not stun or get the feeder in a daze this without a doubt will put your snake at risk, if you feel compel to do this then please DO NOT feed live.

The key to live feedings are

1# Pre-scent the room, put the feeders in the room 1 hour prior to feeding, this will entice the snake to eat.

2# Make sure your feeder is well fed and hydrated, this is very important when you buy feeders and do not know how they are kept, offer food and water while they are in the room (during the pre-scenting phase)

3# Feed an appropriate size prey without feeding anything larger than a small/medium rat even to the largest of your adult BP.....BP do not need large rats, I don't feed anything larger than a 150 grams rats to my animals and I have BP in the 3500/4000 grams range.

4# Do not stress your feeders, do not stun your feeders etc.

5# Open the snake enclosure drop feeder remove if uneaten after 10 min.