It seemed so wrong, but felt so right...

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Originally Posted by Bruceweb

Its not hard to explain, all your reasons are weak & self centred..how can you say you dont want to kill anything, the snakes do it!..You just feel that you need to intervene crushing heads & feet..if you want to go down the Natural route..leave them be to do what comes naturally, your interference is not required..A few minor scratches or nips will do no harm

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Bruce,

I do believe that a live rodent has the potential to harm my animals. Please don't tell me there is no risk. These are my choices and I am not required to share the same beliefs as you on this matter.

I am respectfully requesting that you refrain from calling me names. I do not find those comments to be productive or helpful.

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Originally Posted by Chocolate Muffin's

Sorry about that, but the welfare of my snakes came first. I din't realize how maternal I was about them until I felt like their safety was in jeopardy. I love them sooo much.

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If you care about their safety so much, why would you put them at risk of a bite in the first place? Doesn't add up.

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Originally Posted by aaramire

Well it seems to me that alot of the problems you had with f/t are because you had crappy quality rats. I NEVER have smelly or messy f/t prey, and I never have bloody anything to throw away. Try getting some decent rats and you may find it makes a huge difference. Also, I am not sure why you had to buy a seperate freezer if you are only feeding two snakes... I feed two retics and a small boa and I keep the rats in one small shelf on my freezer.... no more space is needed. Personally I think feeding live is gross, the rats smell and poo and pee everywhere on the snake, and its a pain to lug them around when I can just go to the freezer and get some rats out and thaw em and be done. Not to mention the price, I don't know where you buy your rats but I have paid upwards of 7 dollars for ONE live rat.... sometimes as much as 10 or 15 dollars. Now, I pay 20 dollars for a bag of 20 small f/t rats.... sounds like a good deal to me... Maybe I am missing something here?

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It’s very possible that the rodents I purchase aren’t the greatest, but I really don’t know since this is how they always present. I have thought about purchasing mice and rats in bulk, but this is where the freezer issue comes into play. I personally don’t want rodents in my freezer becuse that is ‘gross’ to me. I always buy their food the day they are being fed because I don’t want to have to store them. The live animals are priced exactly the same as the frozen where I live. No difference. The frozen rats and mice both had poop and the live ones did too, so I didn’t see any difference there. I recognize the topic of live vs. F/T can be a sensitive one, but I am glad I made the switch, and barring any disaster, I plan on continuing what I believe is best for my animals and my sanity.

It is quite fascinating, seeing the snakes feed on live for the first time. And I agree, I didn't expect them to be so fast!!!

You may not have problems going back to f/t if you decide to. Most of mine will go back and forth with no problems.

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Originally Posted by Aeries

If you care about their safety so much, why would you put them at risk of a bite in the first place? Doesn't add up.

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According to Bruce, there is no risk. I believe there is an inherent risk of the snakes being harmed, and my actions outweighed that risk - I'm comfortable with that.

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Originally Posted by Chocolate Muffin's

Bruce,

I do believe that a live rodent has the potential to harm my animals. Please don't tell me there is no risk. These are my choices and I am not required to share the same beliefs as you on this matter.

I am respectfully requesting that you refrain from calling me names. I do not find those comments to be productive or helpful.

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Ermmmm..I dont recall calling names here..I dont have any issues with live feeding..only with those who do so cruelly & then boast of their actions as you have..you tube is full of people posting videos of cruelty, in the name of feeding their snakes..if you are aware of the potential of harm by live feeding, I see no reason to change from defrost, as stated, most try the opposite..your choice but I dont think its clever to mention the cruelty inflicted towards the prey in the name of protecting your precious snakes..I love my son but if he got into a fight I wouldnt dream of clubbing the other kid over the head to prevent my son from harm..I disagree with your post, my prerogative, thats what forums are for..to express opinions

Well congrats on your first live. I feed all 3 of mine live and they LOVE it. They are so much more interested since I started on the live. Instead of um....:O crushing them....you might want to thump them on the head you will stun them a bit and by the time your snake gets them they will not be able to bite.

I have been feeding live for quite a while now....I use to not thump them...but one bit my snake...did not hurt him or leave a mark. But NO WAY that is going to happen again.

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Originally Posted by Bruceweb

Ermmmm..I dont recall calling names here..I dont have any issues with live feeding..only with those who do so cruelly & then boast of their actions as you have..you tube is full of people posting videos of cruelty, in the name of feeding their snakes..if you are aware of the potential of harm by live feeding, I see no reason to change from defrost, as stated, most try the opposite..your choice but I dont think its clever to mention the cruelty inflicted towards the prey in the name of protecting your precious snakes..I love my son but if he got into a fight I wouldnt dream of clubbing the other kid over the head to prevent my son from harm..I disagree with your post, my prerogative, thats what forums are for..to express opinions

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By calling my thoughts and beliefs "self centered & weak" and implying that I might enjoy harming animals is name calling to me, and unproductive at the least. I am unclear why you feel that protecting one’s own is cruelty, but if that’s how you feel that’s fine.

I don’t apologize for anything in relation to switching to live or protecting my animals. You state that you don’t have an issue with feeding live, but I might beg to differ. Also, I do believe that snakes can be harmed if live rodents are left unattended with a feeding snake.

I’d like to believe that if someone or something was posing a serious threat to your son, that you would use whatever means to impose upon that threat. I’m not talking about scrapping on the playground. If you chose to stand on principal alone and allowed your son to be seriously harmed, then our opinions are vastly different on matters greater than these.

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Originally Posted by BPelizabeth

Well congrats on your first live. I feed all 3 of mine live and they LOVE it. They are so much more interested since I started on the live. Instead of um....:O crushing them....you might want to thump them on the head you will stun them a bit and by the time your snake gets them they will not be able to bite.

I have been feeding live for quite a while now....I use to not thump them...but one bit my snake...did not hurt him or leave a mark. But NO WAY that is going to happen again.

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Thanks Michelle, I appreciate your comments and support. I am sorry about your snake, and I understand 100% why you feel this way!

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Originally Posted by BPelizabeth

Well congrats on your first live. I feed all 3 of mine live and they LOVE it. They are so much more interested since I started on the live. Instead of um....:O crushing them....you might want to thump them on the head you will stun them a bit and by the time your snake gets them they will not be able to bite.

I have been feeding live for quite a while now....I use to not thump them...but one bit my snake...did not hurt him or leave a mark. But NO WAY that is going to happen again.

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I have live fed..all of mine managed very well to kill & eat the prey without assistance..they naturally strike more aggressively..for the record their are far more humane ways to stun prey rather than crushing feet or heads..you can simply flick them behind the head..its posts & video's of cruelty that give the hobby bad press..I wonder what the stance of the local animal humane societys would be on crushing animals heads & feet..not good I would not think!