Live or frozen

I haven't gotten my BP yet but, when I do I keep hearing you should feed F/T mice because of the risk of injury to the snake. Most breeder websites I've looked on feed live. So, can you switch to frozen or should you feed live with BP's? I can't purchase live where I live so can you order them on the internet or where do you get them (other than breeding your own)? I would rather feed frozen so I could just order bulk on-line and feed my corn snake as well.

Live or F/T is your personal decision. As long as you supervise live feedings, it is a safe way of feeding, and BPs have a much stronger feeding response when fed live rather than F/T typically. However, if you prefer f/t there are ways to switch your snake over. There are literally dozens of threads here on the subject, do a search and you should have no trouble finding answers.

There are also tons of threads on f/t suppliers you can order from online. Most, if not all, supply both mice and rats of various sizes so you can custom order for each snake's needs.

O.K. thanks. Now, for my next question...what method do you all feed with?

Again, there have been several threads and polls on what people feed with their explanations. Do a search and you'll probably find more than what to read, hehe! =)

You can also (from the front page) click the MORE POLLS link and kind of scan down through - I can't remember is the last poll said "f/t" (hard to search for) or "frozen".

Of my 26 snakes all but 5 are fed f/t the remaining ones will only take live.

I feed live.

13 snakes and all but one little bugger is on FT. Though that is do to a regurg problem when eating FT only...not because it won't take them.

If the snake is eating F/T it's much easier to get them eating live. The problem is that they might not be able to go back to eating F/T just as easy. I feed mine F/T, because I can keep a freezer full of rats, instead of having to go buy one every week (not always convinient). As for feeding technique; I defrost the rat, by putting it in a ziplock bag and soaking it in a bowl of hot water. I usually have to change the water a couple of times, because the water will cool, and rat might not be fully defrosted yet. Once warm I take the rat by the tail with a pair of tongues and dangle it in front of the snake. He strikes and grabs the rat, and I release it. Then I just let him do his thing.

250+ (not even sure how many at this point really), all live. ;)

-adam

me gots one that does live, one that does f/t.

I dont mind either way. the only problem is if my live eater doest wanna eat..i get stuck with his leftovers.
my girl will eat either. she just likes to eat. she knows no matter what we give her its going to be a huge meal.

our male is pretty picky. if we wake him up to eat...he wont eat. he likes mice and seems to respond better to them than weanling rats.

I descirbe my snakes like children, ive got one that will eat anything and one who has to be treated like a prince.

good luck feeding. sometimes you gotta try different things/options.

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

250+ (not even sure how many at this point really), all live. ;)

-adam

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show off *wink* ;)

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Originally Posted by 4Khan

show off *wink* ;)

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Hey, if ya got it ... flaunt it. ;) :P

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Hey, if ya got it ... flaunt it. ;) :P

-adam

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I'm game!
120 all live.

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Originally Posted by 4Khan

if my live eater doest wanna eat..i get stuck with his leftovers.

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this is why i made the change to f/t for both of my BPs.

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Originally Posted by muddoc

I'm game!
120 all live.

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ROCK ON Tim! .. I like it. ;)

-adam

50+ snakes all eating live except 2 boas that eat jumbo rats that are "stunned". ;)

3 bp's eating live b/c they do better easting live, when they were being offered f/t or p/k they refused to eat for months after trying to switch them over... will never ever ever do that again.... although, I do supervise all feedings with live...

and 1 boa eating f/t or p/k. He wont touch live period.. maybe b/c he has always eaten f/t or p/k.. I noticed his strikes are weak at best and slower, and he seems a bit "afraid" of live when I tried to switch him over for convienence since my others eat live.

As mentioned before, if you use the search function, you will find lots and lots and lots and lots of these types of threads discussed over the sites time in existence.

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Originally Posted by Wild Bill

50+ snakes all eating live except 2 boas that eat jumbo rats that are "stunned". ;)

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Forgot I do have one male bp that will only eat prekilled, but he is the exception to the rule. :)

Let's see...


7 Ball Pythons - all eat live rats of varying sizes

2 BCI - the smaller one eats rat pups live, the larger one eats rats or meat bunnies or guinea pigs and will eat live, f/t, stunned or pre-killed

1 Milksnake - eats f/t mice (I don't care how much Beth loves her snake no way am I breeding mice for it to eat LOL)

That's it...for now ;)

25 live

i wont count hatchling sized :)

I feed f/t, but just because Im lucky enough not to have any picky critters at this time :)
I had a WC BP that the owners fed live, but they did it VERY irresponsibly, and my snake had a lot of scarring.. :( I got her switched over, but it took a while a lot of back and forth, and a lot of wasted f/t's!! Too bad I didnt have my savannah monitor then!
I feed f/t for my own personal reasons. For me, I end up liking the rat..

[QUOTE=amercnwmn]Too bad I didnt have my savannah monitor then!
=QUOTE]

Yep, savs are very handy disposal units on legs - I never get wasted stuff now.

[QUOTE=Razaiel]

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Originally Posted by amercnwmn

Too bad I didnt have my savannah monitor then!
=QUOTE]

Yep, savs are very handy disposal units on legs - I never get wasted stuff now.

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LOL!!! How is your savvie doing? Mine HISSED at me!! :O

He's doing OK. He's still sometimes a bit nervy, sometimes not - I think it depends on what time of day it is. He rarely hisses and I haven't seen a tail whip for months now - but he was always pretty good really. It's those claws! OUCH!!


How's yours? He's still a baby isn't he?

BTW - nice to see you here :)

Yes, hes still a little one, looks like a golfball with legs :)
I think he's still adjusting, and scared. I added some more hides, but so far, he likes his tree trunk. I stapled carpet over the back side, so its nice and dark in there, and he feels secure :)
I've caught him soaking, and he's eating really well :)

Wait till you see how well that boa of yours will do Sue LOL. Seems like they rarely refuse anything and are pretty dang handy for cleaning up the odd sizes and extras from the pickier snakes (yet another boa benefit :) )

All live here tried feeding f/t with my first snake and I didn't like it.Well another vote for live feeding.

Courtney - the golfball on legs description sounds so cute :) Mine wasn't that small when I got him.

Jo - I have already fed Sakura on her first due day and she snatched it up and gulped it down - she was completely all-business about it. I let her rest then for 3 days and got her out on the fourth day. She's a real sweetie and the breeder must have handled her quite a bit because she settles down nicely on me now after an initial bit of exploring, just the same as Emily does. Of course, being a boa, I have to make sure I take her in different areas and have my shower between if I'm handling Emily after her - I try to handle Emily before her though.

In the UK we have no choice - we have to feed f/t. I think I would go for that anyway because it kills any parasites that might be harbored inside the rodent. But of course, if the snake will feed no other way, there isn't a choice.

Freezing doesn't kill parasites in the rat, plus that the parasites on rats are not transmissable to reptiles.

Anyway.. as long as the snake eats, it's all good, right?

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Freezing doesn't kill parasites in the rat, plus that the parasites on rats are not transmissable to reptiles.

Anyway.. as long as the snake eats, it's all good, right?

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Not trying to start a debate, just wondering where one could find information/studies proving freezing does or does not kill parasites in the prey??(ie: worms)

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Originally Posted by amercnwmn

Not trying to start a debate, just wondering where one could find information/studies proving freezing does or does not kill parasites in the prey??(ie: worms)

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Susan Barnard and Steve Upton disucss this topic at lenght in their book series "A Veterniary Guide to the Parasites of Reptiles" ... I am sure that there are plenty of other sources as well.

-adam

I was told by several more knowledgeable people on here whom I trust.. I don't have any direct source though.

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Susan Barnard and Steve Upton disucss this topic at lenght in their book series "A Veterniary Guide to the Parasites of Reptiles" ... I am sure that there are plenty of other sources as well.

-adam

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Thanks!! I've been wondering about the sources for both basis of thought :)

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Freezing doesn't kill parasites in the rat, plus that the parasites on rats are not transmissable to reptiles.

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/nod...the fecal I just got back on Carmen showed clean with exception of mouth pin worms, which my vet told me were species specific, coming from the feeder animal, which pass harmlessly through the snake.

We currently feed live, although I think we're gonna make an euthanasia machine (gas chamber) to either kill or stun the feeders, at least Cleo's rats, because they are sure feisty and I don't want the kids to get hurt...so more for my peace of mind.

Oh my I seem to have got that wrong then!! I know the freezing process does something good (I thought it was to kill off parasites inside the rodents) if not, what is it it does? I need to learn ;)

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Originally Posted by Razaiel

Oh my I seem to have got that wrong then!! I know the freezing process does something good (I thought it was to kill off parasites inside the rodents) if not, what is it it does? I need to learn ;)

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1. Makes them keep longer.
2. Less smelly than live ones.
3. Freaks out your mum when she opens the freezer. =)

I just had to look up where I'd heard this mis-information (it stuck in my brain) - it was probably from another forum "ahem" and even on Petco websites!! not that I go to Petco we don't have them in the UK. It seems to be a very prevalent belief going around QUOTE "Feeding frozen/thawed prey eliminates this threat because the freezing process kills bacteria and parasites." END QUOTE Please note it's not me saying that - I really don't know ;)

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Originally Posted by cassandra

1. Makes them keep longer.
2. Less smelly than live ones.
3. Freaks out your mum when she opens the freezer. =)

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The last one isn't applicable to me - I AM the mom!!

Well the other very little known side benefit of feeding f/t is that is really slows down the middle of the night, let's raid the freezer for edibles done by one's teenage son and his cronies during an all night Xbox marathon.

hehehehehehe :halohorn:

I can imagine *opens freezer door* oooh, looks like Kentucky Fried Rat tonight ;)