Crazy rat - it's feeding day - need help!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Rickys_Reptiles

Leave the poor little bugger alone for an hour or 2, it'll probably curl into a ball and go to sleep. It's a living creature, be kind to it and it'll calm down. Remember, rats are social animals. This morning that rat was probably piled in the corner of its tub with a dozen or more of its siblings. now its scared and alone.

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I agree 100%, this also why I don't stun live prey. This is where my number 2 pencil comes in handy or me prying the rat away if it came down to it.

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Originally Posted by treeboa

Rats aren't stupid. They know what's going to happen. I had to take my first female ball to the vet for a deep bite from a medium rat that decided to attack the minute its feet hit the floor.

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This is also why I will not feed anything larger than a small rat if it is alive. Older/bigger means more potential for serious injury.

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

This is also why I will not feed anything larger than a small rat if it is alive. Older/bigger means more potential for serious injury.

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Yeah I haven't fed anything past a small yet either, and I don't think I ever will.

Okay heres what you do: 1.put on thick gloves
:2. kill it
:3.feed it to your reptile

Personally when I feed live rodents, I always use tongs to grab them by the scruff. That way when I present it to the snake it is much more likely to grab the rodent by the head and therefore less likely to be bitten.

With mice I sometimes use the tail, but rats are much too heavy to be held by their tails so you're best off with the scruff (I've heard of their tails actually coming off, not my cup of tea)

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Originally Posted by Alexandra V

Personally when I feed live rodents, I always use tongs to grab them by the scruff. That way when I present it to the snake it is much more likely to grab the rodent by the head and therefore less likely to be bitten.

With mice I sometimes use the tail, but rats are much too heavy to be held by their tails so you're best off with the scruff (I've heard of their tails actually coming off, not my cup of tea)

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Please don't dangle your feeders.

It stresses the rodent out. A stressed rodent is an angry rodent.

I would feed rats like this to my boa. She is very fast to strike during feeding time and very accurate. The rat would be choked out before it knew what happened. ( all under supervision of course)

I wouldn't trust a rat like that with my ball pythons as they arent as aggressive All the rats I breed are pretty sweet though

Yeah, my ball pythons won't eat f/t but they don't take live either. Quickly or painlessly prekill the rat or have the pet store employee do it for you. It's better for the rodent, better for the snake, and better for you.

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

Please don't dangle your feeders.

It stresses the rodent out. A stressed rodent is an angry rodent.

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Sorry, I wasn't clear. I don't dangle them ever, but I do transport them by the tail (mice) or scruff (rats). When I do feed them off I put them on the ground in the tub but I usually do keep a hold on them. Sometimes my snakes get them before they hit the ground though.

Why not just hold the rat in the palm of your hand? They're not only more secure, but they feel more secure and therefore are more relaxed when being offered. Whenever I have a live rodent to feed off, I just stand there, give it a few moments (or minutes) of cuddling and affection. It seems to help the rats go to the feed more calmly and then I don't have scarred up snakes because I was too callous to be nice to their dinner. Also I don't even hold them in place. I'll use my hand or hemostats to keep them to the side of the tub the snake is in but I don't touch them.