What is "Force-Feeding"?

I have seen this in some posts before.
I mean, I know that it's a person/owner/vet that has a f/t mouse or rat and somehow forces the snake to eat.
I just don't know how it's done, but just that it has been done for some snakes. I'd like to know how it's done though, just so I'm not ignorant to what it is and how it's done anymore :oops:

I heard you need egg-whites in order to do it, is that true?

I hope no one takes offense to my dumb question lol.

I would look it up on my own, but I'm sure the search results would take me back to this site anyways since everyone here is informative and helpful :) (and I'm sure this topic has been covered on this site before)
So why not start here to begin with? lol

All I know is it's extremely stressful for the animal.

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Originally Posted by valhalha30

(and I'm sure this topic has been covered on this site before)
So why not start here to begin with?

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You're probably right about searches coming back here, but other places will have helpful information as well. Plus if you think there is already info here, why not use the search bar?

Assist feeding is putting a dead rodent in the snakes mouth, force feeding is the tube and egg. Force feeding should really only be done with hatchlings that didn't absorb the yoke. I have had to assist feed some babies, but its really not necessary for older snakes and is super stressful on the snake.

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Vet wanted to force feed my snake. At advice of folks here I opted not to go with that and eventually she finally ate so all you need to know is avoid it at all costs unless it is absolutely necessary.


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Geez.
Does it do more harm than good? Would the snake start eating on its own or would it need help feeding again?

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Geez.
Does it do more harm than good? Would the snake start eating on its own or would it need help feeding again?

It needs to be considered on a case by case basis. No blanket statement can be made, often Vets jump the gun. there are cases where it can be valuable but is a serious undertaking.

Force feeding is taking a f/t rat, a smaller rat than the snake would usually eat and forcing it down the snakes throat. You would usually take the rat and using the rats nose you would pry open the Ball Pythons moth, it's usually pretty easy to do. From that point you slowly put pressure on the rat till it's head is inside the snakes throat. They don't usually like this for obviousl reasons. Then, the owner slowly pushes the rat all the way down, or most of the way down into the snake. Sometimes it needs to be done - sometimes it the only way. If you do it gently, it's not nearly as stressful as people make it sound. Every breeder I know has done it when they need to. If you dont know how to do it properly, you can cause a lot of damage to your snake.

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Originally Posted by Rickys_Reptiles

Force feeding is taking a f/t rat, a smaller rat than the snake would usually eat and forcing it down the snakes throat. You would usually take the rat and using the rats nose you would pry open the Ball Pythons moth, it's usually pretty easy to do. From that point you slowly put pressure on the rat till it's head is inside the snakes throat. They don't usually like this for obviousl reasons. Then, the owner slowly pushes the rat all the way down, or most of the way down into the snake. Sometimes it needs to be done - sometimes it the only way. If you do it gently, it's not nearly as stressful as people make it sound. Every breeder I know has done it when they need to. If you dont know how to do it properly, you can cause a lot of damage to your snake.

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this is not correct at all!

Force feeding is by tube inserted into a snakes stomach by a vet.

Assist feeding is gently pushing a snakes mouth open with a pinky rat or small mouse and getting the teeth hooked into the prey. Then allowing the instinct to kick in and the snake start feeding by its self.

Forcing rats down a snakes throat is dangerous and irresponsible.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

this is not correct at all!

Force feeding is by tube inserted into a snakes stomach by a vet.

Assist feeding is gently pushing a snakes mouth open with a pinky rat or small mouse and getting the teeth hooked into the prey. Then allowing the instinct to kick in and the snake start feeding by its self.

Forcing rats down a snakes throat is dangerous and irresponsible.

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I've seen it done many times by many breeders. We'll need to agree to dissagree on this point then.