Putting food for rat in snake enclosure to distract them?

Is it a good idea to maybe put a few pieces of dog food in the snake tub tgat only eat live so the rats get distracted during feeding time?

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

Is it a good idea to maybe put a few pieces of dog food in the snake tub tgat only eat live so the rats get distracted during feeding time?

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It helps keep the rat calm/distracted while the snake does its thing. It's certainly not a bad idea.

I do that. I add a single kibble to each bin with the rat and while it eats..................last meal.

I'm constantly amazed and a little amused by the number of people who think their BPs, who are uniquely designed for dispatching rodents, need human intervention to dispatch rodents...

:rofl:

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Originally Posted by Slim

I'm constantly amazed and a little amused by the number of people who think their BPs, who are uniquely designed for dispatching rodents, need human intervention to dispatch rodents...

:rofl:

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Umm, actually therd have been plently of times rodents have injured or even killed snakes, so yeah human intervention can alot of times decide the end result of a feeding! Nothing wrong with making sure everything goes as smooth as possible!

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

Is it a good idea to maybe put a few pieces of dog food in the snake tub tgat only eat live so the rats get distracted during feeding time?

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I used to do that. I think its a great idea when it comes to feeding live. Its especially useful when your snake is in blue and cant really see or sense the position of the rat. Having the rat stay put would be beneficial instead of it running around the enclosure

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Lol wow didn't think about that. Thanks

Great idea! HA

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Originally Posted by Slim

I'm constantly amazed and a little amused by the number of people who think their BPs, who are uniquely designed for dispatching rodents, need human intervention to dispatch rodents...

:rofl:

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They're also uniquely designed to hatch eggs on their own, and yet we most commonly tuck them away in an incubator. Amazing...

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Originally Posted by Slim

I'm constantly amazed and a little amused by the number of people who think their BPs, who are uniquely designed for dispatching rodents, need human intervention to dispatch rodents...

:rofl:

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What about snake mites on snakes. Without human intervention, our pets wouldn't be able to completely remove the mites on their own. Have you tried pulling off a tick from a dog? It's not an easy task whilst ensuring you do not burst the tick in the process which might possibly spread the eggs all over their fur.

Heck, having a pet snake in itself is human intervention!

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Perhaps I should have been more specific when I used the term Human Intervention. Didn't realize the tone of my post was so obtuse...

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

Umm, actually therd have been plently of times rodents have injured or even killed snakes, so yeah human intervention can alot of times decide the end result of a feeding! Nothing wrong with making sure everything goes as smooth as possible!

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Thank you for this BFO (Blinding Flash of the Obvious). I never said don't supervise. I never said create a scenario from Lord of The Flys during feeding time. I'm a huge fan of everything going as smoothly as possible. My point is, 999 times out of 1000, your snake will do just fine in it's valiant struggle to subdue a rat.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

They're also uniquely designed to hatch eggs on their own, and yet we most commonly tuck them away in an incubator. Amazing...

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At the risk of being really snarky, and running the risk of committing a BFO, Hatching eggs and feeding snakes are not the same thing... Yep, not the same thing at all.

You're doing great work as a Mod, Eric. It ain't easy being Green! I appreciate what you do around here. :gj:

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Originally Posted by djstarfall

What about snake mites on snakes. Without human intervention, our pets wouldn't be able to completely remove the mites on their own. Have you tried pulling off a tick from a dog? It's not an easy task whilst ensuring you do not burst the tick in the process which might possibly spread the eggs all over their fur.

Heck, having a pet snake in itself is human intervention!

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Ok, for those of you in the back of the room who are having a hard time hearing. Treating mites and feeding snakes are not the same thing... Nope, not the same thing at all.

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Originally Posted by Slim

I'm constantly amazed and a little amused by the number of people who think their BPs, who are uniquely designed for dispatching rodents, need human intervention to dispatch rodents...

:rofl:

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Why? Do you laugh at kids who wear bike helmets even if they are on the sidewalk with training wheels? If it reduces a small risk to an even smaller one and there is no harm in doing it, what's the problem? I had a snake who got bit in the head by a live mouse because he didn't quite get his latch/wrap right immediately. In the short second it took him to adjust his grip, he got bitten in the head. I was supervising, but my reaction time is not nearly fast enough for that. He healed fine but it could have been his eye.

In the wild, hunting is dangerous for even apex predators, and in a bin/tank situation, a rat is on a high alert from being moved and dropped into a bin that smells like predator, who has had less time and space to stalk and prepare.

999 times out of 1000 sounds minuscule but when you think of how many snakes we collectively have and how many of those are fed on a daily basis, that amounts to a lot of bitten snakes.

I think this idea to distract the rat is quite good. As to the odds of something going wrong with live feeding they are just odds and you will quickly find that the odds don't matter when it happens to you. I don't like feeding live. Nothing wrong with it, I just don't like dealing with carting live rats around in my car. That said, I purchased a couple adult girls last year that had never had anything but live. They would not succumb to my best rat dance and I wanted to breed them so I gave in and fed them live. First two feedings no problem. Nature did what nature does. The third feeding, I put the rat in and it immediately walked over and bit the crap out of my girl. I instantly killed the rat. Both those girls are now on frozen/thawed. My point is even with me right there, that is 1/6 odds. So, if I ever need to feed live again I am doing the kibble thing.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

Both those girls are now on frozen/thawed. My point is even with me right there, that is 1/6 odds. So, if I ever need to feed live again I am doing the kibble thing.

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Glad to hear you got them onto f/t! I eventually was able to with mine as well. Another thing I didn't mention earlier but now that I think about - anything I've ever fed live was a poor feeder and fed live as a last resort. When my snake was bitten he did kill and eat the mouse but wouldn't eat again for a few attempts at that. Of course long term he was fine but it can be worrisome when you're already having feeding issues. Plus, it's probably nicer for the rat, too. I'd rather die eating a hamburger than thinking "oh crap I just know there's a hungry lion around here somewhere."

Like it is a small risk (and more along the lines of a small bite injury to the snake rather than death) and I get not doing it but I don't get being all condescending about it. There is literally no downside, and several upsides, for the cost of one piece of kibble. No reason to make someone feel silly for wanting to do that.

Even F/T doesn't guarantee no bite will happen. Had one hit low on the strike, when she wrapped up it drove the dead rodents teeth into her. Things can always go wrong.

I'm with slim tho. Feeding a snake a calm rodent shouldn't be an issue, it's what they do. Feeding live is always a higher risk, personally don't see he benefit of of distracting the rodent. They aren't very smart and if not stressed out will walk right up to the snake and not know what hit them.


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Originally Posted by Rob

I'm with slim tho. Feeding a snake a calm rodent shouldn't be an issue, it's what they do.

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I just really don't understand why anyone would feel the need to take a side on this. No one is saying everyone has to do it - the question was whether it's a good idea. It is a good idea because it is not a bad idea. Keeps the rodent calmer than it may have been otherwise, which - as you concede above - reduces the risk of an issue. From what to what? No one knows until someone does a study, but in the meantime, risk mitigation should be lauded, not laughed at.

And anyway, statistics don't matter to the individual. I have literally had this unlikely thing happen to me and I didn't think "oh gee I'm the one in a thousand today, there are 999 other people to whom this didn't happen." I thought "oh no poor snake but thank god wasn't your eyeball."

Can't it just an optional thing that some people choose not to do without deriding those who do?

F/t risk is irrelevant and tbh if you want to start pulling the teeth from your f/t rodents, go for it.

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Originally Posted by Zoe

It is a good idea because it is not a bad idea.

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I love your thinking. If you are not already an engineer you should become one.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

I love your thinking. If you are not already an engineer you should become one.

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You flatter me, sir! :D

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Originally Posted by Zoe

It is a good idea because it is not a bad idea.

F/t risk is irrelevant and tbh if you want to start pulling the teeth from your f/t rodents, go for it.

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Is it a bad idea? No. Is it a good idea, that's a matter of opinion, I see it as a unnecessary idea.

The bashing of teeth comment, doesn't deserve a response. You seem awfully angry for someone agreeing with slim saying it's ok to let the snake do what it's built to do without extra steps such as feeding the rodent. I don't see why people are getting so worked up over he subject outside of the bashing of teeth idea.

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Originally Posted by Rob

Is it a bad idea? No. Is it a good idea, that's a matter of opinion, I see it as a unnecessary idea.

The bashing of teeth comment, doesn't deserve a response. You seem awfully angry for someone agreeing with slim saying it's ok to let the snake do what it's built to do without extra steps such as feeding the rodent. I don't see why people are getting so worked up over he subject outside of the bashing of teeth idea.

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I can understand it seeming unnecessary to many people, however I am not sure any of us is qualified to truly make that call on a general basis without some evidence that, no, adding a piece of kibble does NOT contribute to calming/distracting the rodent and/or reducing the risk of a bite. Until you can tell me it doesn't, I think it's reasonable to posit that it does, and thus it seems like a reasonable, easy, consequence-free precaution someone might wish to take and in which I can find no fault.

Re teeth: I didn't mean it angrily at all. I truly meant that if that happened to you with an f/t rat, I would understand that if in the future you felt like you wanted to remove that risk (on an f/t rat - not a live one) and I wouldn't laugh at you for it because at the end of the day, you're doing something you feel reduces the risk of injury to your snake without harming, offending or inconveniencing anyone or anything else in the process.

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Originally Posted by Rob

Is it a bad idea? No. Is it a good idea, that's a matter of opinion, I see it as a unnecessary idea.

The bashing of teeth comment, doesn't deserve a response. You seem awfully angry for someone agreeing with slim saying it's ok to let the snake do what it's built to do without extra steps such as feeding the rodent. I don't see why people are getting so worked up over he subject outside of the bashing of teeth idea.

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string goal = "Chill out rat"; \\(the only thing I know of that is going to chill the rat out more is to kill it)
bool foodChillsOutRat = true;
bool goodIdea = goal == "Chill out rat" && foodChillsOutRat;

In english
So if you want the rat to chill out this method works. If you do not concern yourself about the rat being chilled out don't bother.

Zoe may actually be annoyed with the ridiculous argument. If you want to try it, it seems to work. If you don't, no one is saying anyone has to. Anything that sounds like it makes things easier I like. I like paper towels. They make my life easy. Other people like natural substrate. It does not make them wrong. Their priorities are different than mine. I would argue with someone that said paper towels don't work but I would not argue with someone that said natural substrate is better because it could be better for them.

I obviously have too much time on my hands today.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

I think this idea to distract the rat is quite good. As to the odds of something going wrong with live feeding they are just odds and you will quickly find that the odds don't matter when it happens to you. I don't like feeding live. Nothing wrong with it, I just don't like dealing with carting live rats around in my car. That said, I purchased a couple adult girls last year that had never had anything but live. They would not succumb to my best rat dance and I wanted to breed them so I gave in and fed them live. First two feedings no problem. Nature did what nature does. The third feeding, I put the rat in and it immediately walked over and bit the crap out of my girl. I instantly killed the rat. Both those girls are now on frozen/thawed. My point is even with me right there, that is 1/6 odds. So, if I ever need to feed live again I am doing the kibble thing.

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hi Jordan, how do you actually "instantly kill the rat" because (im not being sarcastic) sometimes i also feed live, but if sh*t happens, how do i kill it quick without it running all over the place with a pissed off snake in defensive mode? Honest question

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

string goal = "Chill out rat"; \\(the only thing I know of that is going to chill the rat out more is to kill it)
bool foodChillsOutRat = true;
bool goodIdea = goal == "Chill out rat" && foodChillsOutRat;

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Hah, not gonna lie that was kinda hot.

And ya, that's what bugs me. If we want to discuss the merits of doing so vs not doing so, that's fine. State our preferences, that's fine. But to act like this is something you have to pick a side on, or to try to make people feel silly for doing? There is literally no downside, and an unknown but possible upside, how could anyone possibly be anything less than neutral about someone else doing this??

This kinda reminds me of something I did ages ago - although I used them successfully in the past, I had heard of people losing snakes to mite treatments (pesticide-based) and decided to try using predatory mites to treat my snakes. It worked great, it didn't cost much more than a conventional treatment, and my snakes were not directly exposed to pesticides, which I felt carried a small but unknown potential risk. I posted about it on a forum, sharing my experience, and people actually got kinda mad and confused and to this day I don't understand it.

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Originally Posted by djstarfall

hi Jordan, how do you actually "instantly kill the rat" because (im not being sarcastic) sometimes i also feed live, but if sh*t happens, how do i kill it quick without it running all over the place with a pissed off snake in defensive mode? Honest question

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It's one of those things you would have to see to believe. It involved no conscious thought. I just reacted. Picture this. This particular tub had not been put in a rack yet. I use Hefty tubs which have very good lids. I have the tub on the floor with the lid half open. Drop medium rat in. Rat walks over like she is going to sniff my beautiful albino girl and chomps her right in the side. I already have the lid in one hand. Free hand shoots in and grabs the rat by the tail at the same time pulling it backwards out of the tub. At the same time I am pulling the rat out of the tub my other hand is moving the lid down. About the time that the lid is almost shut the rats head is in the tub and his body is not. Hit the top of the lid at the same time jerking rearward on the rat's tail and you end up with a rat with a broken neck. This all happened in under a second.

I don't think I would recommend this as a technique. It is just what happened. I don't even know if it is repeatable.

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Originally Posted by Zoe

Why? Do you laugh at kids who wear bike helmets even if they are on the sidewalk with training wheels? If it reduces a small risk to an even smaller one and there is no harm in doing it, what's the problem?

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No I do not, however, kids wearing helmets is not the same as feeding snakes. Nope, never gonna be. In addition, please point out where I ever said the kibble thing was a BAD idea? Please point to the line where I said it was a problem.

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Originally Posted by Zoe

999 times out of 1000 sounds minuscule but when you think of how many snakes we collectively have and how many of those are fed on a daily basis, that amounts to a lot of bitten snakes.

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Where do you people buy your rats? At the Caffeine, Adrenaline, Rat Farm? Are your rats that freaked out? Sheesh, I'm glad I buy mine at the 420 Rat Ranch. Pretty chill bunch over there as a general rule.

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Originally Posted by Zoe

I just really don't understand why anyone would feel the need to take a side on this.

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Where did I take a side?

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Originally Posted by Zoe

It is a good idea because it is not a bad idea.

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Sounds like a lost Prince lyric...

Seems that I was doin, somethin close to nothin, but different than the day before...

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Originally Posted by Zoe

But to act like this is something you have to pick a side on

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Were not sizing up teams for dodge ball here...R E L A X :bounce:

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Originally Posted by Slim

Where do you people buy your rats? At the Caffeine, Adrenaline, Rat Farm? Are your rats that freaked out? Sheesh, I'm glad I buy mine at the 420 Rat Ranch. Pretty chill bunch over there as a general rule.

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Rofl

I am pretty sure the one that bit my snake was on flakka.

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Originally Posted by Slim

No I do not, however, kids wearing helmets is not the same as feeding snakes. Nope, never gonna be.

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Of course it's not the same, it's a comparison, it's not supposed to be the same. Point being, we do things to mitigate risk all the time. Sometimes those things significantly reduce significant risk (say, a doctor washing his hands before assisting a birth or doing surgery - something which was, incidentally, formerly ridiculed). Sometimes the risk is very minor (like putting a bike helmet on your kid who is just riding around the driveway and sidewalk on training wheels under your supervision and is highly unlikely to suffer a head injury even without a helmet).

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Originally Posted by Slim

In addition, please point out where I ever said the kibble thing was a BAD idea? Please point to the line where I said it was a problem.

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I didn't say you did, or at least I didn't intend to. I meant that because it's a potentially good idea (by virtue, partially, of not being a bad idea), it's shouldn't be ridiculed.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Where do you people buy your rats? At the Caffeine, Adrenaline, Rat Farm? Are your rats that freaked out? Sheesh, I'm glad I buy mine at the 420 Rat Ranch. Pretty chill bunch over there as a general rule.

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Darling, I was using your estimated chance of a problem (0.1%) to illustrate that even though it's a small risk, it does happens. And if you're the person whose snake got bitten, statistics are of little comfort.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Where did I take a side?

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That wasn't directed at you, apologies for the confusion. In fact I have no qualms with your original point that it is, in the grand scheme of things, a statistically unnecessary precaution, I just didn't like the derision that accompanied it, nor the implication that it if someone does do this, it's because they don't know a snake can kill a rat on its own. It was insulting and unnecessary.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Sounds like a lost Prince lyric...

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I was never a Prince fan but I shall take it as a compliment! :D

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Originally Posted by Slim

Were not sizing up teams for dodge ball here...R E L A X

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:colbert: Don't do that. I'm allowed to not like what you said, and say so, without being motivated by hysteria.

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Originally Posted by Zoe

Of course it's not the same, it's a comparison, it's not supposed to be the same. Point being, we do things to mitigate risk all the time.

My point being that we use comparison far to often and regularly out of phase. No matter how many times we do it, an apple will never be an orange, even if they are both fruit, and delicious, and good for you, and both grow on trees, and can be purchased at the grocery store, and are generally round, and can be made into to tasty juice. Still gonna be apples and oranges



I didn't say you did, or at least I didn't intend to. I meant that because it's a potentially good idea (by virtue, partially, of not being a bad idea), it's shouldn't be ridiculed.

If you take my amazement or amusement as a form of ridicule, then that's a label you applied yourself. I intended neither in my OP.



Darling, I was using your estimated chance of a problem (0.1%) to illustrate that even though it's a small risk, it does happens. And if you're the person whose snake got bitten, statistics are of little comfort.

Next time I'll issue a :sarcasm: warning. My point was hyberbolistic on purpose...



I just didn't like the derision that accompanied it, nor the implication that it if someone does do this, it's because they don't know a snake can kill a rat on its own. It was insulting and unnecessary.

Again, labels you have placed on the shipping container. Insulting? Mildly at most. Unnecessary? Debatable, as most things are...




I was never a Prince fan but I shall take it as a compliment! :D

You don't know what you're missing. Highly recommended!



:colbert: Don't do that. I'm allowed to not like what you said, and say so, without being motivated by hysteria.

And don't throw hysteria at me. We both know the origin of the word. Please feel free to not like anything I say, but I urge you to not like what I say, not what you think I mean. You'll find I use little in the way of hidden meaning. Not many lights under bushel baskets where my opinion is concerned.

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Slim and Zoe,

Thank you both for providing the entertaining banter on a really dull day. I really mean that. Slim, Zoe seems to be a smart girl, her conclusions are sound. I understand your points and your sense of humor, there is the smell of military all over it. I did my time so I understand the attitude. I don't think Zoe realizes what you are about.

Zoe, the way Slim is talking is natural for his background. It is not personal.

Now I will shut up and mind my own business.

My experience I feed over 200 live prey each month just to my breeders (that's well over 20000 live feeders during the last decade, during hatching season add 300 to 400 more a month), in those years I never used a piece of dog food in the enclosure and also have never had a single issue. I breed my own rats know they are well fed and well hydrated and it has been my experience that if not snatched out before hitting the enclosure's floor the rats will simply go in a corner where they will usually fall asleep.

As for the killer rats out there it's greatly exaggerated by pro F/T feeders people with an agenda and ZERO experience that continue to propagate the myth of the killer rat rather than educate people on how to properly feed live. The pictures and the tales all have a back story that does not represent live responsible feeding

As for the question if that makes the OP feel better why not there is no harm in doing so but for a feeder that should remain in the enclosure no longer than 10 min I find it unnecessary.

Just my :twocents: and some change

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Originally Posted by Deborah

My experience I feed over 200 live prey each month just to my breeders (that's well over 20000 live feeders during the last decade, during hatching season add 300 to 400 more a month), in those years I never used a piece of dog food in the enclosure and also have never had a single issue. I breed my own rats know they are well fed and well hydrated and it has been my experience that if not snatched out before hitting the enclosure's floor the rats will simply go in a corner where they will usually fall asleep.

As for the killer rats out there it's greatly exaggerated by pro F/T feeders people with an agenda and ZERO experience that continue to propagate the myth of the killer rat rather than educate people on how to properly feed live. The pictures and the tales all have a back story that does not represent live responsible feeding

As for the question if that makes the OP feel better why not there is no harm in doing so but for a feeder that should remain in the enclosure no longer than 10 min I find it unnecessary.

Just my :twocents: and some change

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I absolutely know nothing about rat behavior and have only fed live when I felt had no other choice. I honestly do not know how I could have prevented my occurrence short of restraining the rat. The rat was in with the snake for two seconds. Maybe the rat was just trying to figure out what the snake was. It was not an I am going to rip you to shreds attack. I personally am not for or against one way or the other. I try to do things the easiest way possible which for me means f/t. If my collection was as large as yours and I had my own rat colony I would feed live all the time for the only reason that it is more efficient to do so. All that said, if there is a methodology to reducing the possibility of this rat behavior I am always interested in learning new things and will try it out the next time I have to feed live.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

Zoe, the way Slim is talking is natural for his background. It is not personal.

Now I will shut up and mind my own business.

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Haha, it was fun all around and turned into an interesting thread. No offense taken by any of it, just didn't wanna see someone being talked out of a good idea or made to feel silly for it. I like new ideas, I find them invigorating!

If the snake feels like eating the rat won't be alive long enough to look for a meal and I wouldn't leave a feeder in long enough to get bored and hungry as that puts the snake at risk.

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Originally Posted by Rob

Is it a bad idea? No. Is it a good idea, that's a matter of opinion, I see it as a unnecessary idea.

The bashing of teeth comment, doesn't deserve a response. You seem awfully angry for someone agreeing with slim saying it's ok to let the snake do what it's built to do without extra steps such as feeding the rodent. I don't see why people are getting so worked up over he subject outside of the bashing of teeth idea.

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How is it unnecessary if it could prevent a bite? If a rat is running around a snake enclosure alot of times the snake may grab the rat in awkward position and get bit. If the rat is distracted and sitting still eating, the snake can make sure it grabs the rat in a good spot. P.s i tried it today and my snake took its time making sure she aimed and got the best possible strike ive seen from her yet.

[QUOTE=Zoe]Why? Do you laugh at kids who wear bike helmets even if they are on the sidewalk with training wheels? If it reduces a small risk to an even smaller one and there is no harm in doing it, what's the problem? I had a snake who got bit in the head by a live mouse because he didn't quite get his latch/wrap right immediately. In the short second it took him to adjust his grip, he got bitten in the head. I was supervising, but my reaction time is not nearly fast enough for that. /QUOTE] Yep, for this reason I ONLY feed F/T. Why risk it? My vet told me someone's beloved BP lost an eye the other day to a live rat. Again, they were supervising. Action is always quicker than reaction, however.

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

How is it unnecessary if it could prevent a bite?

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Nothing is unnecessary if it makes you feel better about feeding your snake, but this:

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

alot of times the snake may grab the rat in awkward position and get bit.

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Is a possibility, not a common occurrence. In fact, if you feed the proper size prey to the proper size snake, it actually happens very rarely.


And before you say, "but what about when they're in blue?" I have one that I have to feed in complete darkness, and I'll be damned if homeboy never misses. Somethin' bout' dem' heat pits Yo!

Sorry, I tried to delete my previous post but it wouldn't let me, so let me say this:

While feeding live may not be a problem for some, there are many who *do* have problems with it, whether it's their own fault for feeding the wrong size or under the wrong circumstances, or because they were part of that blasted .001%. Heck, my vet told me someone's beloved BP lost an eye the other day to a live rat (owner supervised the feeding, btw). Further, each of my BP rescues has had chew scars on them. I know many folks on these boards are indeed BP veterans and they don't have these issues, but since there are also a lot of brand new people who know very little about BPs (think people who browse the threads without even joining), I will say this: Action is always quicker than reaction. For this reason, I feet F/T. I don't want to risk it. I won't try to convince others if they choose to feed live, but I will be happy to explain why I prefer F/T. :)

Also, I wonder if feeding the rats a kibble or two not only preoccupies them but also puts something in their mouth, making the odds of chewing the snake go down? Just a thought...

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Originally Posted by O'Mathghamhna

Sorry, I tried to delete my previous post but it wouldn't let me, so let me say this:

While feeding live may not be a problem for some, there are many who *do* have problems with it, whether it's their own fault for feeding the wrong size or under the wrong circumstances, or because they were part of that blasted .001%. Heck, my vet told me someone's beloved BP lost an eye the other day to a live rat (owner supervised the feeding, btw). Further, each of my BP rescues has had chew scars on them. I know many folks on these boards are indeed BP veterans and they don't have these issues, but since there are also a lot of brand new people who know very little about BPs (think people who browse the threads without even joining), I will say this: Action is always quicker than reaction. For this reason, I feet F/T. I don't want to risk it. I won't try to convince others if they choose to feed live, but I will be happy to explain why I prefer F/T. :)

Also, I wonder if feeding the rats a kibble or two not only preoccupies them but also puts something in their mouth, making the odds of chewing the snake go down? Just a thought...

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I feed f/t to everyone of my snake except 1 that absolutely refuses anything but live. Im going to try p/k next week but f/t is a no go for her.

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

I feed f/t to everyone of my snake except 1 that absolutely refuses anything but live. Im going to try p/k next week but f/t is a no go for her.

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Have you tried different colors and sizes? I know it sounds nuts but some BPs prefer darker or smaller prey.

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Originally Posted by O'Mathghamhna

Have you tried different colors and sizes? I know it sounds nuts but some BPs prefer darker or smaller prey.

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Yes ive tried white and black small rats and she was not interested. Hopefully next week im going to offer her p/k and if she takes it ill feed p/k for a few weeks then ill offer f/t again. For now she is a dedicated live eater!

This was a nice read:D, If it makes someone feel better to add a piece of kibble or not then that is their prerogative. In my experience, the rats reaction is just as quick as the snakes strike; eating or not. The rats senses are beyond are my understanding but I know they can smell that they are not in a place conducive to their well being:P and they are constantly on the alert. I will say that if they are eating it keeps the rat in one spot; kind of like baiting bears for hunting, but I have not seen it make the rat any slower at defending itself. It is beneficial to the hobby to have people think outside the box and try new things, that is how it has evolved over the years, but going back and fourth over something that has been done for years is just another "F/T vs live feeding debate", one is not better then the other IMO.

The whole point to use kibble is to keep the rat still, that way the snake can be sure to get a good strike on the rat.

don't forget to add water from an underground natural aquifer. it's pure deliciousness could also distract the rat and i heard it's the best for your BP to drink. ;)

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Originally Posted by Ax01

don't forget to add water from an underground natural aquifer. it's pure deliciousness could also distract the rat and i heard it's the best for your BP to drink. ;)

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Lol im not even gonna start with this again.

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Originally Posted by Ax01

don't forget to add water from an underground natural aquifer. it's pure deliciousness could also distract the rat and i heard it's the best for your BP to drink. ;)

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

Lol im not even gonna start with this again.

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good lol.

anyway if putting in a kibble gives your snake an advantage and it won't hurt it, do it. as snake keepers, we do many things to give them advantages over their wild counterparts. we give them reliable heat, feed them weekly, give them Fiji water, take them to the vet as needed, etc. etc.

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Originally Posted by Ax01

good lol.

anyway if putting in a kibble gives your snake an advantage and it won't hurt it, do it. as snake keepers, we do many things to give them advantages over their wild counterparts. we give them reliable heat, feed them weekly, give them Fiji water, take them to the vet as needed, etc. etc.

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Just fyi i dont give my snakes fiji water they all get tap. In the beginning when i first started with bps i was not sure about tap for their drinking water but after i realized that almost everyone uses tap i used it and they have no problems with it, but that besides the point. I personally like the kibble idea and it works for me, i just thought others may benefit from it. Also thought i should throw out there the kibble thing was not my idea, i just read about it a few days ago!

***Makes mental note to pick up some Fiji Water***

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

Just fyi i dont give my snakes fiji water they all get tap.

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:taz: BURN HIM!!! :taz:

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Originally Posted by Slim

***Makes mental note to pick up some Fiji Water***

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Lets stay on topic and not take other peoples jokes!

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Originally Posted by highqualityballz

Lets stay on topic and not take other peoples jokes!

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Topic's been pretty well covered at this point. It's gotten much more entertaining since then! :D