Feeding Live...

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

Maybe it's just my bp, but she always seems to aim for the mouses rear, and definitaley eats from the rear. The way she coils around the mouse usually leaves the front half able to flail around, and I just recently found what appears to be a small bite mark that a mouse made WHILE being constricted. I watch the feedings closely and there is no way the mouse bit her before she got the mouse.

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Yea, I'm concerned about the safety issue with live feed. I've really been concentrating on the issue of how to make things go down well and make sure the snake has the upper hand. I think one thing that a seperate tub does for the situation is remove alot of variables.

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Originally Posted by bearhart

Yea, I'm concerned about the safety issue with live feed. I've really been concentrating on the issue of how to make things go down well and make sure the snake has the upper hand. I think one thing that a seperate tub does for the situation is remove alot of variables.

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For the most part there's a reason snakes have scales, and no they're not just drop dead sexy. They're body armor. Most incidents you hear about from live feed are from irrespnsible owners, however there can be bites you cannot always stop. Despite the bite, I am going to remain feeding live b/c in the great scheme of things there is little danger to the snake if properly observed. A small bite is a small bite. Hurts for the time being, but a lesson to do it better next time around. And she seems to have taken the advice with the last two mice I've given her.

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Originally Posted by bearhart

Yea, I'm concerned about the safety issue with live feed. I've really been concentrating on the issue of how to make things go down well and make sure the snake has the upper hand. I think one thing that a seperate tub does for the situation is remove alot of variables.

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As well as removing the safety and protection of hunting from their hides in their own enclosures. :rolleyes:

Feed in a separate enclosure if it makes you feel better, but it's just not necessary. I don't interfere with my snakes or try to give them the upper hand - they are perfectly capable of dispatching live prey with no interference from me.

If you have routines, pre-scent the room, don't leave prey in for any longer than 30 minutes, and let them do their thing, you'll find that they are quite efficient hunters.

I feed live, untill I find a good source of f/t food. But yes Chester is a great live feeder, he always gets the head, rarely the neck and never anything past there. Its over for the mouse or small rat (whatever I may be feeding to my beauty at that time) in 10-15 seconds. Not long at all. Maybe even less than this.

Edit: Yes I feed him in his tub. I used to feed f/t outside outside his enclosure, but Chester either soon became lazy or wasnt interested untill inside his tank (this was when he was in his 20gal long tank) plus my room was a bit cold outside the tank. But I have been feeding live since January 07. For me, its more convenient (except now my room smells like mice and its sometimes a bit messier.. :( ) and for Chester. Chester usually eats 3-4 adult mice a week, or a small rat 3-5 weeks of age per week or every 7-9 days. The most he has ever eaten (because I had to get rid of my male mice and some) was 4 hopper male mice, and 1 adult white male mous and a fat mean hamster...

Did I read somewhere that feeding them hamsters and gerbils can cause them to refuse other foods? Is that true?

it can and hamsters and gerbils get expensive....

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Originally Posted by rabernet

As well as removing the safety and protection of hunting from their hides in their own enclosures. :rolleyes:

Feed in a separate enclosure if it makes you feel better, but it's just not necessary. I don't interfere with my snakes or try to give them the upper hand - they are perfectly capable of dispatching live prey with no interference from me.

If you have routines, pre-scent the room, don't leave prey in for any longer than 30 minutes, and let them do their thing, you'll find that they are quite efficient hunters.

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

For the most part there's a reason snakes have scales, and no they're not just drop dead sexy. They're body armor. Most incidents you hear about from live feed are from irrespnsible owners, however there can be bites you cannot always stop. Despite the bite, I am going to remain feeding live b/c in the great scheme of things there is little danger to the snake if properly observed. A small bite is a small bite. Hurts for the time being, but a lesson to do it better next time around. And she seems to have taken the advice with the last two mice I've given her.

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Drop dead sexy - LOL. Well I definately feel better about not using a seperate enclosure after talking to you guys. But, I'm reluctant to change things up since I haven't had any troubles in that area.

It seems like alot of these issues are partly controlled by both the owner's and the snake's preference. I'm a n00b so I'm not trying to say anybody's doing anything right or wrong - only what works for me.