this is why we dont feed live

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Originally Posted by ballpythonboy

This ball python had to be put down this is why you dont put live mice in the same cage as your snakehttp://www.deviantconstrictors.com/images/care/dont-feed-live1.jpg sorry didnt post ill try again

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I am not sure if you are just a fire starter or what, but that photo has nothing to do with feeding live. It has to do with ignorance, which it seems is present on both extremes of this issue.

I am sure you mean well. But you are going about it in a very negative way. First of all, this is a large and well established community of ball python owners and breeders. We know the risks of feeding live, and when we feed live we do it in the right way and this sort of thing never happens.

Second of all, trying to preach to a large group of people who have been raising and caring for these snakes for many years by telling them things they already know in a patronizing manner is not a good way to make friends.

I do appreciate you wanting to educate people on how dangerous irresponsible live feeding is, but I gently suggest you seek out places where people perhaps have not had a lot of experience with snakes and help them to understand what it means to be a responsible keeper.

Choose your words carefully, present your ideas in a gentle manner, offer advise in a pleasant way, and you will be welcomed pretty much anywhere.

Gale

Educating over fear mongering wins every time :gj:

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Originally Posted by ballpythonboy

This ball python had to be put down this is why you dont put live mice in the same cage as your snakehttp://www.deviantconstrictors.com/images/care/dont-feed-live1.jpg sorry didnt post ill try again

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This picture has been around a LONG time there is also a story behind it.

This is not the result of RESPONSIBLE live feeding, this is what happen when a rodent is left without food or water overnight with a snake.

Now this picture is like the boogieman, every now and then an INEXPERIENCE keeper or a F/T ADVOCATE (not sure which one you are) will post this picture to scare people of.

Now what is YOUR experience when it comes to live feeding, how many live prey and many snakes have you fed and most importantly how many severe injuries resulted from your feeding practice?


I feed live, I used to feed F/T, I probably feed 200 to 300 rats a months (which is not much by any means) but I can tell you that none of my snakes has ever sustained an injury.

Here is what I believe

I believe that when it comes to feeding it is about being knowledgeable and being responsible. I don't believe in scaring people of with a picture that is the result of and irresponsible owner.

People need to know their option and chose what work for them and their animal based on that knowledge and the convenience of the method they chose.

You want scary? Did you know you could kill your BP feeding F/T? :rolleyes:

Agreed with everyone.
I feed live and never had an issue. I also follow a strict list of rules when feeding live, which includes not leaving a feeder with the snake for longer than 30 minutes or less. Also keeping the feeder well fed and hydrated will keep the feeder from seeing the snake as a tasty meal....

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Originally Posted by Flikky

But I am curious about why the snake wouldn't strike and kill even if it didn't want to eat the rodent to get the rat/mouse to leave it alone.. That had to have been extremely painful. I would think any animal would eventually strike back.

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Because their defensive mechanism is to ball up. Not strike out as other species would do.
Hence the name "ball python". The poor thing was probably a sitting duck to the hungry feeder. :(

This is why you don't feed live unattended. I feed live with no problems, but never leave my snakes alone with their food for even a second, I watch like a Hawk. Feeding live is perfectly safe if you're responsible enough to put everything aside except that snake while he's eating.

1.0 ball pythons - Koba
0.1 pitbull/lab - Cinnamon
0.1 collie/elkhound - Fluffy
0.2 children
1.0 boyfriend

Deborah hit the nail on the head. You leave prey over night you must leave the prey with food, as the prey itself is an animal and does need to feed and drink.

Be responsible and don't stick a live rodent in the cage and leave it unattended.

Totally agree wIth what everyone is saying. Feeding live is safe if your responsible. I fed live just this Saturday, didn't take the f/t rat I purchased hopefully it isn't wasted money, and my Bp struck the rat on its tail leaving the rats head completely free to defend itself. Now if I wasn't around to stick a unsharpend pencil in the rats mouth I believe my Bp would have gotten seriously injured.

I feed live off of tongs. The rats feet never even hit the tub floor. I've never had a problem doing it this way.