A Little Reassurance

[FlipsideRuffian]

(Sorry if this is in the wrong place!)

So if you have been tracking my previous thread about how my ball python hasn't been eating, we've come to the conclusion of trying out live. He fed live in the store where I got him from, and has not eaten since. Issue is....I just don't have the heart to do it. I own many small animals, so they hold a piece of my heart, you know? I can feed f/t as since small animals/rodents have short lifespans, so I have had some experience with uh...frozen rodents I guess??
I have no problem with snakes eating live, I have watched videos and the like. I will absolutely feed live, I just need some reassurance with it..

[PandaBurrr]

We only feed live. Tried frozen and Freddi wants nothing to do with it. Drop a live one and it is almost instant. I am an avid animal lover and I completely understand. I have owed hamstets, rabbits, gerbils, chinchillas, ferrets, cats and dogs. It takes some getting used to but you have to think of it as that is what your little noodle would be doing in the wild. I hope I can could help some.

[Alter-Echo]

While feeding live comes with obvious risks, sometimes there is really no other good option and it's just something that must be done.

If it's any consolation, it's usually mercifully quick, as constricting snakes are very good at what they do. Considering the myriad of horrible ways humans kill animals on a daily basis, death by ball python is downright pleasant.

[SDA]

You need to do the best for your snake. Part of that occasionally means feeding a live rodent to get them to eat. You are absolutely doing the right thing going to offer them what they were eating. Just keep an eye on them and never walk away until they have dispatched their food.

You'll do fine. I have a hard time killing a fly let alone a rodent but I would bash a head in if it meant keeping my snakes healthy.