Live feeding

Ok here it goes. My first feeding for my new baby is Thursday. I've read a few things and I know people gave varying opinions. I want to feed live baby rats to her ( don't know what sec it is but my daughter says it's a she so for now it's a she). So basically opinions on live Vs. Dead feedings please. Go.

You'll get many different opinions on this.
I feed live, but with that there is the chance of injury.

I will be placing my first frozen rodent order on friday.

One of the most debated and argued over topics in snake care.

My personal opinion, is f/t
I lost a 3 year old RTB to a fatal rat bite back in 96.
F/t are cheaper to purchase and store better. (Unless you raise your own)
Freezing helps to limit the parasites they are exposed to.
The ways used to kill prey foods are quicker and more humane then getting bit and choked out by a snake.

Mainly for me, the only supplier of live feeders near by is Petco, thier quality is poor and they are expensive. I live in an apartment so a feeder colony isn't a viable option.

Feed what the snake has been raised on. If it's live and you want to go f/t try to switch over after a few meals, but theres nothing wrong with whatever you decide on.

I feed all of mine live and pay close attention

I feed f/t for convenience, lack of stink, and pure laziness.

I have one young mojave that is still a live feeder and if she doesn't get with the program by a year of age she's going to be finding a new home.

There are plenty of snakes growiing and breeding on both f/t and live so really, I think it's more up to what you want to do and what your snake will accept.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maixx

Mainly for me, the only supplier of live feeders near by is Petco, thier quality is poor and they are expensive. I live in an apartment so a feeder colony isn't a viable option.

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I called them, looking for feeders and about fell off the chair rats 2/$10 :O

Will be ordering from loxahatchee rodents.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by llovelace

I called them, looking for feeders and about fell off the chair rats 2/$10 :O

Will be ordering from loxahatchee rodents.

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And that's the frozen prices at Petco here, live are between $7.50 sm and $10 lg, each.

If you can find someone who breeds rodents that'll be your very best option. I buy from a friend and he prekills all the rats and mice for me and then I put them in my freezer. This way I don't have to make the drive very often and the rats won't eat my snake haha. I use the f/t or prekilled also because there is a wedge in my cages that the balls like to be in and not come down, so leaving a live prey item is not an option. Not to mention I don't want to clean up urine and poo from rats.