How do you feed live?

I was wondering what everyone's method was for feeding live. Personally I flick the rat/mouse on the head to knock it out before I feed it off. I found that this keeps the rat/mouse from biting my snake. I realize that some people might consider this wrong, but I wanted to see what other people do.

I just don’t. No reason to feed live unless u have a snake that really refuses

I make sure the prey item is fed and relaxed. When they're calm and not hungry it's over before they even realize what happened.

I definitely wouldn't flick them or swing them at a wall or any of the other things I've heard done.

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Originally Posted by Danger noodles

I just don’t. No reason to feed live unless u have a snake that really refuses

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That is my situation at this point. My Blood wont eat F/T I am trying to change that though.

If this is what you do YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS feeding live.

Whether or not you like rodent, they deserve respect and not to be abused or tormented prior to death (what you describe is part of why snake keeper have a bad rep)

Additionally by doing this you are putting your animal at greater risk than if you were feeding live the way you should feed live. A mouse a a rat that would come out of it would become more aggressive than one that was not stunned.

The key to feed live is to have feeders that are well fed and well hydrated before being fed off, that is something YOU do while pre-scenting the room. Other important factor is feeding the right size.

After an hour of being in the same room simply drop the feeder in the enclosure leave it 10 mins and remove if un-eaten.

I have fed well over 50000 live preys and never stunned any of them and never had any incident and for animals that require anything larger than a medium rat I suggest feeding pre-killed or F/T

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

I make sure the prey item is fed and relaxed. When they're calm and not hungry it's over before they even realize what happened.

I definitely wouldn't flick them or swing them at a wall or any of the other things I've heard done.

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Why wouldn't you flick them or hit them against a wall? Is this a personal thing, or is there a concrete reason why?

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

Why wouldn't you flick them or hit them against a wall? Is this a personal thing, or is there a concrete reason why?

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That's called ANIMAL CRUELTY :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

Why wouldn't you flick them or hit them against a wall? Is this a personal thing, or is there a concrete reason why?

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Both. I find it to be cruel. I've also learned from Deb and other reliable sources that if they're stunned and "come to" they're going to be more scared and more likely to lash out. ie fighting back, biting and causing unnecessary injuries to the snake.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

If this is what you do YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS feeding live.

Whether or not you like rodent, they deserve respect and not to be abused or tormented prior to death (what you describe is part of why snake keeper have a bad rep)

Additionally by doing this you are putting your animal at greater risk than if you were feeding live the way you should feed live. A mouse a a rat that would come out of it would become more aggressive than one that was not stunned.

The key to feed live is to have feeders that are well fed and well hydrated before being fed off, that is something YOU do while pre-scenting the room. Other important factor is feeding the right size.

After an hour of being in the same room simply drop the feeder in the enclosure leave it 10 mins and remove if un-eaten.

I have fed well over 50000 live preys and never stunned any of them and never had any incident and for animals that require anything larger than a medium rat I suggest feeding pre-killed or F/T

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First off, I have no issue with rodents. I have done it this way because I was taught that knocking out the rodent is better for both the reptile and the rodent. The way I feed live was the way I was taught 20+ years ago. I realize things change which is why I asked the question. Yelling at me, and telling me i have no business feeding live doesn't help me. I was trying to find out how people feed live to their pets. I could see if I was doing it out of malice or something, but I honestly believe that stunning the rodent makes it safer for all parties involved. but I will stop doing it if people really think its like a form of abuse.

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

First off, I have no issue with rodents. I have done it this way because I was taught that knocking out the rodent is better for both the reptile and the rodent. The way I feed live was the way I was taught 20+ years ago. I realize things change which is why I asked the question. Yelling at me, and telling me i have no business feeding live doesn't help me. I was trying to find out how people feed live to their pets. I could see if I was doing it out of malice or something, but I honestly believe that stunning the rodent makes it safer for all parties involved. but I will stop doing it if people really think its like a form of abuse.

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You were thought wrong 20 years ago but that would be common sense really it's not better it's actually worse, worse for the snake worse for the feeder and worse for the image you project as a reptile keeper that reflect on ALL OF US.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

You were thought wrong 20 years ago but that would be common sense really it's not better it's actually worse, worse for the snake worse for the feeder and worse for the image you project as a reptile keeper that reflect on ALL OF US.

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So feeding a snake at home with no one around reflects on everyone else? Look I was asking a question to get an answer, not to get told I am reflecting bad on everyone. I don't feed my snake in public, nor do I have anyone around when I feed him. If it was common sense I would have figured it out. What is common sense for you may not be for others. I can see why people are afraid to ask questions.

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

So feeding a snake at home with no one around reflects on everyone else? Look I was asking a question to get an answer, not to get told I am reflecting bad on everyone. I don't feed my snake in public, nor do I have anyone around when I feed him. If it was common sense I would have figured it out. What is common sense for you may not be for others. I can see why people are afraid to ask questions.

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This is a public forum do you think animal activists do not read public forums where YOU just described how you feed your snakes and worse see no issue with it???? :rolleyes:

Obviously common sense would be not to do what you do to a feeder animal if you don't see what you do is wrong you are seriously are lacking common sense. :rolleyes:

I asked for help on what to do. If i thought i was doing it right 100% I wouldn't have asked. I asked because I wanted to see if anyone else had a better method. If I said ok this is how I feed my snakes, and I'm right, I could see your point. But I was asking for help and information on a different method. I did not say My way is right.

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

First off, I have no issue with rodents. I have done it this way because I was taught that knocking out the rodent is better for both the reptile and the rodent. The way I feed live was the way I was taught 20+ years ago. I realize things change which is why I asked the question.

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Yes things do change and typically for the better. As Deb noted, stunning is no longer considered appropriate. In addition to not stunning rodents, there have been other changes in the last 20 years:

Myth: Feeding snakes in the enclosure will cause the snake to become aggressive and mistake your hand for food, so it should be moved to a separate tub for meals.
Fact: You are more likely to get bit by a hungry snake if you attempt to move it than if you just feed it in the enclosure, and you can tap train a snake to break its food response so it doesn't mistake your hand for food when it's not time to eat.

Myth: Freezing a snake is a humane method of euthanasia.
Fact: While the snake's body goes torpid its brain remains active, so it feels itself painfully freezing to death. Freezing is not humane. Pith the brain if you need to put a snake down quickly, humanely, and painlessly.

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The key to feed live is to have feeders that are well fed and well hydrated before being fed off, that is something YOU do while pre-scenting the room. Other important factor is feeding the right size.

After an hour of being in the same room simply drop the feeder in the enclosure leave it 10 mins and remove if un-eaten.

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

I asked for help on what to do. If i thought i was doing it right 100% I wouldn't have asked. I asked because I wanted to see if anyone else had a better method. If I said ok this is how I feed my snakes, and I'm right, I could see your point. But I was asking for help and information on a different method. I did not say My way is right.

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Let me see if I can help.

1. Arguing with them will do you no good.

2. Back on topic... if your animal will take a prey item that is knocked out then it will take pre-killed just fine.

3. If a prey item is knocked out but still alive the snake might get lazy and not constrict the prey and it can wake up inside and eat its way out and kill your snake.

4. Research ethical ways of killing prey and you will find a variety of ways that are more accepted by the masses in the industry and hobby.

5. Us hobbyist are always under the watchful eye under any for of social media, media, or public conversation at all times. No you don't have to care or reply to comments you don't like but please understand that every word or action carries weight that effects us all.

Good luck.

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Originally Posted by Skyrivers

Let me see if I can help.

1. Arguing with them will do you no good.

2. Back on topic... if your animal will take a prey item that is knocked out then it will take pre-killed just fine.

3. If a prey item is knocked out but still alive the snake might get lazy and not constrict the prey and it can wake up inside and eat its way out and kill your snake.

4. Research ethical ways of killing prey and you will find a variety of ways that are more accepted by the masses in the industry and hobby.

5. Us hobbyist are always under the watchful eye under any for of social media, media, or public conversation at all times. No you don't have to care or reply to comments you don't like but please understand that every word or action carries weight that effects us all.

Good luck.

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Thank you very much. I don't leave my snake alone with prey. Even thought he will take knocked out I have been having issues with F/T.. I will just have to try harder I guess.

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

Thank you very much. I don't leave my snake alone with prey. Even thought he will take knocked out I have been having issues with F/T.. I will just have to try harder I guess.

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Can I get the short version on methods to feed pre-killed you have tried? Hair dryer trick? This works most of the time with my picky eater. I know some will only eat live but there are many methods to try first. Have you tried ASF?

This is for a blood python, not a ball, so he shouldn't need to go to ASF.

My picky blood wants his f/t feeders super hot, really really hot. He also preferes mice over rats but will now take mice/rat/rabbit so long as I really warm it up.
Good luck OP, I hope you can get him on f/t.

For F/T I have tried 2 methods so far. First I take the rat out of the baggie and put it on the top of his cage to thaw. Once thawed I will either heat up some water(i have tried wet and dry rodent), or get the blow dryer. I heat up the prey to about 90 deg, and then I open the tank and try to find him. Usually I can find his nose poking out of the substrate, so I try to tease him with it. I spend about 15-30 minutes trying to get his attention while he is in the substrate. Now if after 30 or 45 minutes I am unable to get a response, I will then pull him out of the substrate and try again. If that doesn't work I take a paper towel, and put the prey on it and leave it overnight. I try to heat the prey back up about every 5 - 10 minutes, until I put it on the paper towel.

When I do live he eats within 5 minutes of being presented with the prey item.

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

For F/T I have tried 2 methods so far. First I take the rat out of the baggie and put it on the top of his cage to thaw. Once thawed I will either heat up some water(i have tried wet and dry rodent), or get the blow dryer. I heat up the prey to about 90 deg, and then I open the tank and try to find him. Usually I can find his nose poking out of the substrate, so I try to tease him with it. I spend about 15-30 minutes trying to get his attention while he is in the substrate. Now if after 30 or 45 minutes I am unable to get a response, I will then pull him out of the substrate and try again. If that doesn't work I take a paper towel, and put the prey on it and leave it overnight. I try to heat the prey back up about every 5 - 10 minutes, until I put it on the paper towel.

When I do live he eats within 5 minutes of being presented with the prey item.

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Do you think you might be scaring him? Have you tried just placing inside and leaving it and have the room dark and quiet?

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Yes things do change and typically for the better. As Deb noted, stunning is no longer considered appropriate. In addition to not stunning rodents, there have been other changes in the last 20 years:

Myth: Feeding snakes in the enclosure will cause the snake to become aggressive and mistake your hand for food, so it should be moved to a separate tub for meals.
Fact: You are more likely to get bit by a hungry snake if you attempt to move it than if you just feed it in the enclosure, and you can tap train a snake to break its food response so it doesn't mistake your hand for food when it's not time to eat.

Myth: Freezing a snake is a humane method of euthanasia.
Fact: While the snake's body goes torpid its brain remains active, so it feels itself painfully freezing to death. Freezing is not humane. Pith the brain if you need to put a snake down quickly, humanely, and painlessly.

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OH WOW! the freezing thing is interesting. I had no idea the snake felt it... THANKS for that info. I also heard about the tub thing. When I first got my snake I was tub feeding, but as soon as I read that I stopped. I'm sure there is more, but thank you for this.

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Originally Posted by Skyrivers

Do you think you might be scaring him? Have you tried just placing inside and leaving it and have the room dark and quiet?

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Yes I have tried just leaving it in there overnight, and it would be there in the morning. I tried this method 2x. The few times I did get him to eat frozen was when I was tub feeding, before I read that its no longer an accepted practice.

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

Yes I have tried just leaving it in there overnight, and it would be there in the morning. I tried this method 2x. The few times I did get him to eat frozen was when I was tub feeding, before I read that its no longer an accepted practice.

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I don't have any experience with bloods. I do know that they are creatures of habits in general. The advice you are getting from others is good. Take the good.