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  • 05-28-2014, 01:45 PM
    richiquick
    Re: Live Prey vs. F/T as a component of a Snake's "Mental Health"
    I think the clerk is a good salesperson, I have snakes that eat both and have similar personalities!I doubt some of my snakes would know what to do with live prey,I have a corn snake that literally doesn't even bite her food,a live mouse could kill her!I do have a few that no matter what I do will not touch f/t I would like them to but they don't.In my case its not a issue with live prey but I do love my animals and fear for their safety,I have seen nasty rat bites on other peoples snakes and worry for mine, still they have to eat so I do what I have to.The only reason I would risk live food is if there is no choice.If your snake will eat f/t that is a good thing,stick with it!All the things that are dangerous to our animals that we can avoid are a big bonuses,why risk what we don't have to!I doubt your snake is depressed, pet store animals are never in great husbandry so they might not be happy there so they need to kill something to release aggression!

    Sent from my RM-915_nam_usa_228 using Tapatalk
  • 05-28-2014, 03:05 PM
    AlexisFitzy
    Live Prey vs. F/T as a component of a Snake's "Mental Health"
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Deborah View Post
    Sadly in the vast majority of cases where there is an incident (in other words all those terrible pictures you see floating around which are used by pro f/t feeders) the owner is at fault as well, mistakes such as feeding a prey too large, stressing the feeder, leaving the prey too long in the enclosure, feeding a malnourished or dehydrated prey etc, stunning the prey etc.

    A proper size healthy prey will go in a corner and fall asleep, they do not attack or go and chew on snakes.

    I have been feeding slightly over 200 live preys each month since 2007 when I started breeding feeders (you do the maths) and I have ZERO incident to report and have NEVER intervened either, it's not luck many others have done so as well ;).....

    Now back to the regular programming.

    Of course rats don't go around chewing on snakes, sorry if I worded it weird and it sounded that way. I was just saying that when it's in a life or death situation it may try to chew on the snake so it can live. And I never said that feeding live couldn't be successful it can be of course many people have never had any accidents but still. Just saying but anyway back to the the topic.


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  • 05-28-2014, 03:10 PM
    KING JAMES
    Re: Live Prey vs. F/T as a component of a Snake's "Mental Health"
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by eclipse3 View Post
    Did you ever think that some ball pythons go off food for long periods because they feel guilty and depressed about having to kill their prey? Maybe they feel bad for the poor rats families that are being left behind.....:rofl::rofl: Sounds about as likely as them being depressed from only eating f/t....just saying.....lmao.
    I really don't think it matters to the snake. As long as he gets his food he's happy. (At least that's what mine tell me anyway)

    Best answer, conversation is now over.
  • 05-28-2014, 03:46 PM
    jdhutton2000
    http://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/reptile-emotions

    Nope... no depression...

    Honestly depression is a complicated emotion, snakes feel pain, Fear (the anticipation of Pain), and Joy. If they were capable of complicated emotions then that would require bigger brains to produce more chemicals, but they don't...

    Find a snake whisperer...
  • 05-29-2014, 06:38 PM
    satomi325
    An appropriately sized rodent will not be able to fight back. And it shouldn't be aggressive or attack out of no where, especially if it's being kept up to standards: well fed, well watered, calm, not stunned, healthy, etc.

    Small rats are naive and really unconscious to danger at that age. Nobody should be feeding live adult large rats to their balls. A snake can handle prey just fine without much effort as long as they are not over sized. Of course an over sized prey may be able to fight back, which is why it's not recommended to feed large prey.

    I have done hundreds of live feedings because I have snakes who will not take f/t. And I selectively breed my rats for good temperaments. They don't bite or act aggressive even if in danger. All they do is explore the enclosure or just sit in the corner of the tub and fall asleep.
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