Question about feeding live?

I've seen a post about putting food for a live feeder to distract it while the snake's getting ready to feast
But what if I held the live feeder by the base of the tale with tongs, would this be a way that would make the outcome with the snake less of a chance to get hurt?
(If this makes sense? been having issues with wording and lil but comprehension, etc lately )

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Originally Posted by Nitewolfie

I've seen a post about putting food for a live feeder to distract it while the snake's getting ready to feast
But what if I held the live feeder by the base of the tale with tongs, would this be a way that would make the outcome with the snake less of a chance to get hurt?
(If this makes sense? been having issues with wording and lil but comprehension, etc lately )

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Exactly the opposite! You'll end up pissing off the rat and increase the chances of a feeding injury.

I agree with Eric, restraining the live prey will only cause the live prey to become more aggressive and likely will cause injuries to your snakes.

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If you're worried about the rat biting your snake then take the tongs and put it in the rat's mouth

Ah, okay, just checking. thanks for your responses!

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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

If you're worried about the rat biting your snake then take the tongs and put it in the rat's mouth

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Dude, what's your freakin' issue? Was that supposed to be sarcastic, or did you miss the part of the TOS that talks about giving dangerous advice?

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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

If you're worried about the rat biting your snake then take the tongs and put it in the rat's mouth

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Should only be done IF your snake gets a bad strike. SMH

I tried holding a baby mouse by the tail with tongs, it's very painful for the mouse and they squeal real loud, I won't do that again. I also held a mouse by the tail over my snake and the mouse got real mad and bit my snake on the nose, I wont do that again. Most of my snakes will take a live mouse instantly, especially after the third or fourth live mouse after they figure out how tasty they are LOL. Now if they don't eat within 30 seconds to a minute or so they don't eat for that week and I move to the next snake. For me the good thing about live food is that if the snake doesn't eat the mouse / rat you can save it for another day, unlike frozen thawed, which have been frozen for weeks / months then thawed for a couple hours and isn't really good enough to refreeze after one offering, I can't even count how many I tossed in the trash, such a waste. The hardest thing about feeding live is that if the snake doesn't get a good grip on the mouse and the mouse can bite the snake you may have to use a stick to put in the rodents mouth for a minute or two while the snake does his thing, happened to me once already. I actually used the dull end of my knife, probably best to have a popsicle stick around just in case. I actually got a bit too close at first and the mouse bit my finger, luckily he didn't break the skin! In this case the mouse was actually biting the back of the snake and the snake could feel it, a pretty tough situation. Luckily I was watching closely. I also used to put the mouse in the tub and close it up and let the snake do his thing, I won't do that again...

First if you buy your rodent instead of producing them you want to feed and re-hydrate them

Second leave the rodent in the room 30 min to an hour prior to feeding, this is called pre-scenting and will entice your snake(s) to eat

Third feed the appropriate size rodent by dropping it in the enclosure, do not hold the prey by using tongs and dandling it.

Fourth removed if un-eaten within 10 to 15 minutes.

In many cases the feeder will barely have the time to touch the enclosure's floor and for those that do they will typically go in a corner after exploring a little, where they will usually fall asleep.

I have fed well over 20000 prey to my breeders without any incident so it can be done, snakes are efficient killing machines and people have a tendency to overreact, panic and exaggerate.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Should only be done IF your snake gets a bad strike. SMH

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And even then I wouldn't use tongs. Chop sticks are free at every Chinese restaurant in town. Not that hard to keep one handy in the snake room.

Whether captive or not snakes are literally perfect predatory killing machines. I'll grab a rat by the tail and as soon as they grab the scent (usually before I open the top of their feeding boxes (yes I feed in separate tubs) that things feet don't usually hit the ground before they got them wrapped up for the good night kiss.

Now my male is kind of picky and I'll watch him if the rat is getting curious and freaking him out that's a wrap, I pull the rat out and try again in 3-4 days. Typically I carry a knife or similar object if they get a bad strike (rare) to stick in the rats mouth while being constricted. (However they've been knicked before which people honestly over exaggerate snakes are INCREDIBLY resilient animals) now if you're leaving live in the enclosure too long I've seen instances where they'll chew a snake up I usually give my male about 10 minutes and my female requires no time, she's a power eater. however if you're watching them eat like I do and a rat gets a little aggressive you're right there to intervene.

Again, thanks guys, gave me some good info!
I don't know how many live i've fed, but my first female will only eat live tends to strike wherever, as fast as she can(she's getting better now, I guess b/c she knows she'll get fed, her previous owners didn't take care of her and feed her right) She's only been in two incidences, thankfully nothing major.
I also breed and sell my own rats, so I have access to live almost whenever, I just hate the thought of freezing them, I may eventually but I usually feed live but if I go buy any rats at the store if I don't have the right size(they don't sell feeder live here anymore)

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Originally Posted by Nitewolfie

I just hate the thought of freezing them, I may eventually but I usually feed live but if I go buy any rats at the store if I don't have the right size(they don't sell feeder live here anymore)

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you put them to sleep first. or you hate that they will be frozen in your fridge?

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Originally Posted by BeelzeBall.

you put them to sleep first. or you hate that they will be frozen in your fridge?

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I've had frozen in my fridge(just had to hide it from certain people in the house), i don't like the thought of just them dying like that I guess? Not sure, could be also b/c I don't know how to do it? I've been told "just put them in a baggie and in the freezer"

To do it humanely use a CO2 chamber. I believe dry ice is used to produce the CO2 gas.

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How is that bad advice!!?

Bite the tongs instead of the snake.SMH real bad advice -.-

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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

How is that bad advice!!?

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I think it was interpreted as shoving the tongs down its mouth.

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I would put the rodent in the enclosure and be ready to hold the kicking feet and or the biting mouth after the initial strike .

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Originally Posted by Nitewolfie

I've had frozen in my fridge(just had to hide it from certain people in the house), i don't like the thought of just them dying like that I guess? Not sure, could be also b/c I don't know how to do it? I've been told "just put them in a baggie and in the freezer"

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Um no. That's cruelty. I don't know who told you that. You humanely euthanize them with CO2 first. Besides, I think you'd have a real big problem if you put an adult rat into the freezer while alive ;). It takes quite a while to freeze to death and they'd trash your freezer in the meantime.

Since I don't want to make a new topic, I'll add a live feeding question in here:

I just got my bp a small rat, and while usually he slams them within 3 secs (with the exception of being in shed, where he just balls up/refuses to strike) he's been watching this rat scamper around the enclosure for 30 mins now, and looks obviously hungry. He is licking the air, following the rat around with his head, and is in the S shaped striking position, and even... yawning? but still hasn't struck. Just backed into the corner waiting for the rat to come closer, but it won't.

A few minutes ago he stretched out and attempted to follow the rat with his head even closer but it just ran out of reach and he retreated back into S shape in his corner again.

Should I just take the rat out and wait another day or two? Or monitor the situation for another hour?

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Originally Posted by vmachina

Since I don't want to make a new topic, I'll add a live feeding question in here:

I just got my bp a small rat, and while usually he slams them within 3 secs (with the exception of being in shed, where he just balls up/refuses to strike) he's been watching this rat scamper around the enclosure for 30 mins now, and looks obviously hungry. He is licking the air, following the rat around with his head, and is in the S shaped striking position, and even... yawning? but still hasn't struck. Just backed into the corner waiting for the rat to come closer, but it won't.

A few minutes ago he stretched out and attempted to follow the rat with his head even closer but it just ran out of reach and he retreated back into S shape in his corner again.

Should I just take the rat out and wait another day or two? Or monitor the situation for another hour?

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Sounds like he's fasting? I'd say offer it to him again in a day or so.

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Originally Posted by Jon14

I think it was interpreted as shoving the tongs down its mouth.

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It was interpreted that way because it was written that way. And in such a way that it sounded like you were advising that the tongs be shoved in the rats mouth before the snake even had a chance to hit.

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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

How is that bad advice!!?

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And even if you did mean after the snake strikes, I still don't think it's a great idea to introduce a metal object into a snake / rat fight. Lots can go wrong.

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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

Bite the tongs instead of the snake.SMH real bad advice -.-

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Puncture the snake with the tongs instead of getting them in the rat's pie hole. It only takes one time....SMH

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Originally Posted by Nitewolfie

Sounds like he's fasting?

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Sounds like he's ambush hunting...badly maybe, but still. Fasting snakes are usually not interested at all.

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Originally Posted by Nitewolfie

I've had frozen in my fridge(just had to hide it from certain people in the house), i don't like the thought of just them dying like that I guess? Not sure, could be also b/c I don't know how to do it? I've been told "just put them in a baggie and in the freezer"

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Don't put rats or mice in the freezer alive to freeze to death. You either have to break there neck (which I couldn't do) or make a co2 chamber. All you do is get a regular paintball tank and paintball remote line and a tub big enough for how many you want to do at once and run the remote line into the tub by putting a hole in the side at the bottom and put some silicon or epoxy around the edge of the line so you have an air tight seal and to keep it from falling out then you put a small air hole toward the top of the tub so the co2 can push the air out. Then you just lay down some paper towels and put rodents in and slowly turn on the remote line and they will lay down and fall asleep and then you turn the co2 on little more to flood the chamber and your done. It only takes about 2-3 minutes to do one small rat. I have my home made chamber still since I was trying to get my male to eat since he wasnt eating regularly and he was on f/t so I was going to try pre killed so I made my own chamber and he didn't eat any of the ones I gassed but I froze them and he eventually ended up eating them. So now I have a co2 chamber for no reason lol

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"It was interpreted that way because it was written that way. And in such a way that it sounded like you were advising that the tongs be shoved in the rats mouth before the snake even had a chance to hit."

"Puncture the snake with the tongs instead of getting them in the rat's pie hole. It only takes one time....SMH"
https://33.media.tumblr.com/c405e6f0...qff79b_500.gif

Someone will actually puncture a snake's skin by gently putting tongs inside a rat's mouth. Lmao SMH

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Originally Posted by Slim

And even if you did mean after the snake strikes, I still don't think it's a great idea to introduce a metal object into a snake / rat fight. Lots can go wrong.

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Well, using a chopstick (most likely cheaply made) can easily be knawed in half by a decent sized rat, and also could introduce sharp splinters as well. In my opinion, using some thing more sturdy such as metal tongs would be better than using wooden chopsticks as a rat cannot bit through it. I do see your point about introducing something that could potentially puncture the snake, but a chopstick could do just the same.


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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

https://33.media.tumblr.com/c405e6f0...qff79b_500.gif

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Awesome contribution to the discussion. So you're like what, 9 years old? Don't worry, some day you'll be able to speak with adults just like a big boy.

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Originally Posted by Jon14

but a chopstick could do just the same

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As always, you're mileage may vary...

Ok big boy;)

Was gona make a comment to be nice till I saw the "ok big boy"... lol
Anyway, I don't want to make a new thread
I have a BP that hasn't eaten since november(not easy watching them and typing this btw)
I have a small live in his enclosure right now, he's been in the strike position for a while, been looking interested in it, etc. 'Cept when the small rat gets close to his face he freaks out/gets scared? Never had him do so before and he's never been bitten or anything by a rat, er while I have had him at least(about a year now)
any ideas to help? i've been told he eats f/t, but never had any success on feeding him f/t.

Back on topic. The bickering and smart comments are not needed.
Consider this the one public warning and if you have a problem with it feel free to PM me.

Agreed
And now I'm upset (-.-)
He strike at it, then they it go a second later.

It may have been a defensive strike, similar to when you would get tagged.

What's the diference?
Now hes nosing it(?) and checking it out close up, which he usually gets scared when he's close to it?

From my understanding, if it was a strike to eat he would not let it go too willingly. A defensive strike is a quick bite and release to scare the target.

Yeah.. i'm thinking it was a defense strike.. oh well, i'll try again in the next 5-7 days.

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Originally Posted by Nitewolfie

Was gona make a comment to be nice till I saw the "ok big boy"... lol
Anyway, I don't want to make a new thread
I have a BP that hasn't eaten since november(not easy watching them and typing this btw)
I have a small live in his enclosure right now, he's been in the strike position for a while, been looking interested in it, etc. 'Cept when the small rat gets close to his face he freaks out/gets scared? Never had him do so before and he's never been bitten or anything by a rat, er while I have had him at least(about a year now)
any ideas to help? i've been told he eats f/t, but never had any success on feeding him f/t.

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How do you prepare your f/t?

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Originally Posted by chrid16371

How do you prepare your f/t?

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I soak it in warm water til it's thawed. I've gotten my youngest one to eat f/t for the first time, just not this one (Orochi is his name)

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Originally Posted by Nitewolfie

I soak it in warm water til it's thawed. I've gotten my youngest one to eat f/t for the first time, just not this one (Orochi is his name)

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After it is thawed take a hair dryer and heat the head of the rodent for a minute or so, if you have a temp gun then do it until it is a little over 100. Also point the hair dryer so the smell of the rodent goes into the enclosure while your heating the head, this usually gets them in feeding mode. The reason to do this bc they need a good temp signature so they know it is food and heating the head more gives them a place to strike.

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Originally Posted by chrid16371

After it is thawed take a hair dryer and heat the head of the rodent for a minute or so, if you have a temp gun then do it until it is a little over 100. Also point the hair dryer so the smell of the rodent goes into the enclosure while your heating the head, this usually gets them in feeding mode. The reason to do this bc they need a good temp signature so they know it is food and heating the head more gives them a place to strike.

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Yup X2 the second that hair dryer comes on my snakes are practically jumping out of their tubs to get some dinner.

While I agree you potentially COULD puncture your snake with an object while sticking it in a mouse/rats mouth, as with just about anything, just do it carefully. I've only had this issue twice with Kayly. One of her first times feeding with me, she got a little hasty and went right for the butt. She really only coiled around the back half and it took a while to adjust. LOL. The second time was a couple weeks ago with her first rat. I had to take one of my knitting needles and tuck it in its mouth and occasionally under a foot (it was kicking like crazy). I also understand not being able to break the neck or anything. I'm not sure exactly why watching my snake eat it doesn't bother me but that does but we're all different. I hadn't seen a CO2 chamber thing before. I'm thinking I should try it when I start switching her. :)

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Originally Posted by Nitewolfie

I've seen a post about putting food for a live feeder to distract it while the snake's getting ready to feast
But what if I held the live feeder by the base of the tale with tongs, would this be a way that would make the outcome with the snake less of a chance to get hurt?
(If this makes sense? been having issues with wording and lil but comprehension, etc lately )

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I wouldn't worry about a thing I feed between 200 and 350 rats to my ball pythons every week and I can't remember the last time I had a snake get injured. I place a blue clip on each tub that has a rat in it, after 10 minutes or so I go back to all of the snakes that have a clip and check to see if the rat has been eaten if there is a rat in the tub I remove it.

Like other's have said if the rat feels afraid or threatened it is more likely to bite so holding a live rat that has teeth in front of your snake is an accident waiting to happen.

Good luck

Brian / For Goodness Snakes / 408-981-6694

Thanks guys! I'll write that about the hair drier down, so i remember next time!! I'm hopefully, going to the store soon to get frozen(they were out of what I wanted last time)
Only reason why I asked about holding the live rat is b/c of my youngest female, Ryuu, is a rescue, so whenever I feed her she usually(getting better now) she strikes wherever she can, without giving it a chance to recognize what's going on, sadly she's been injured twice, thankfully nothing major. She used to strike before I could fully drop the rat in there, or when it barely hits the bottom of the enclosure, but now it's better to where if she's hungry(she's only refused a meal once while i've had her) she'll strike in 20 seconds or less.

Just did this for my boa; It helped! Thank you guys so much!!