Feeding/health question

[Jamie]

I'm buying a BP in the near future, so I'm researching like mad to get up to speed. Nearly everything I've read recommends feeding frozen/thawed mice/rats--to both insure adequate nutrition and remove the possibility of prey-induced injury. This past week I was told by a very knowledgeable (and confident) person that it's best to feed live prey to keep the snake's muscle tone. She said that when they're only fed f/t prey, the snakes aren't using their constricting response and end up "mushy". What do people think about this and has anyone noticed a problem over the long haul. thanks.

[dotc0m]

I'm in the research phase as well as you are but I will be getting my first BP very soon. I too am planning on feeding F/T feeders but what I heard was that they still do the whole act of constricting even though it's dead. You might be able to catch a video or two of it happening on google or youtube. I may be wrong.

Edit: Never mind, I think I AM wrong. I just saw a video of one just opening it's mouth and gobbling it down. Back to the books

[lillyorchid]

I've never heard of such a thing. Feeding live is fine and safe when it is done responsible (IE: don't leave the mouse/rat in there with the snake by it's self for hours, days, weeks, etc...) You sit and watch and make sure nothing goes wrong! Feeding f/t is fine too. I say whatever works, go with it. I have snakes who eat f/t and others who will only eat live. All of my snakes have nice muscle tone. I know at my job we feed a few thousand boa's f/t rats weekly. All of the boa's have a nice muscle tone and aren't "mushy" at all. All of our ball pythons (few thousand) get fed live, and they too all have nice muscle tone.

EDIT:
Dot you are very right. Some will grab and constrict the f/t rat/mouse... while others will just grab and start swallowing right away.

[Jamie]

Thanks for the feedback

[dalvers63]

All of my ball pythons that get F/T grab and constrict the rats just like they were alive. Sure, some might grab them and start swallowing but honestly, you're going to have your snake out and moving around which will give them more than enough excersice to keep muscle tone up.

Feed whatever is easiest for you and you'll be fine....

[Chard]

I may be wrong, but your bp should be just fine with frozen food regardless of constriction practices. at night it should come out of the hide and strech out properly and get the owrk it needs. if you aren't confident, add some stuff for them to crawl around/on. but make sure that whatever you put in there doesn't hurt/harm your snake. good luck!

[frankykeno]

Oddly enough I've seen some of ours that were fed f/t constrict longer than with live prey. I haven't a scientific reason why but I assume they are holding the constriction waiting for any continuing sign of life and with f/t...well it's a bit of a long wait for that last wiggle or attempt to breath isn't it.

[Kagez28]

when my guy constricts a f/t prey item, i use my tongs to jiggle it away a little. this make him think it's still alive and he constricts more. in fact last night while feeding he squeezed a little to hard and most people know what happens after that...