nervous about live feeding

[Imabur.]

I've had my bp for a few weeks now and wednesday will be the third time feeding him. I keep hearing that it's bad to feed live to your snake, especially since he's still just a little guy, because there's a chance that the mouse will fight back and could hurt him. I was thinking about maybe feeding him live this week, but wanted an opinion first. I thought to myself that maybe if I keep feeding fresh killed for too long, that when he is big enough to handle a live mouse that it would throw him off. I'm just looking for an opinion on whether to feed live or fresh killed. also if you think it's better to feed a fresh killed mouse to your bp, how do you kill them, they say do it as humanely as possible and i found this video...

YouTube - pre kill mouse, feed corn snake

is that how you would do it?

of course the pet store i bought the last two mice from, the workers were telling me to kill it in ways that aren't too humane, as in, beating it on a table or wall, or throwing it across the room, butttt i'd rather let my bp do the killing if he's ready...what do you guys think?

[Elise.m]

They can kill from the day they hatch. Just make sure that the prey is about the same size as the biggest part of your BPs body and he should be ok. Always supervise live feedings in case something should go wrong.

[CoolioTiffany]

Really, it's up to you to decide. I've fed live before (not to any of my Ball pythons, but to a Dumeril's boa and Kingsnake I used to own), and to me it makes no difference, I don't mind feeding my snakes live or F/T. Though, I've never fed pre killed.

Anywho, I would rather feed F/T. Pros and Cons (Live vs. F/T):

LIVE
Pros:
-more nutrients
-can get a picky eater to eat

Cons:
-the rodent can have parasites
-the rodent can injure (or even kill) your snake

F/T
Pros:
-readily available and higher in stock at most stores
-cannot injure your snake

Cons:
-less nutrients from freezing proccess
-some snakes prefer live or pre killed over a F/T food item

[iCandiBallPythons]

Really, it's up to you to decide. I've fed live before (not to any of my Ball pythons, but to a Dumeril's boa and Kingsnake I used to own), and to me it makes no difference, I don't mind feeding my snakes live or F/T. Though, I've never fed pre killed.

Anywho, I would rather feed F/T. Pros and Cons (Live vs. F/T):

LIVE
Pros:
-more nutrients
-can get a picky eater to eat

Cons:
-the rodent can have parasites
-the rodent can injure (or even kill) your snake

F/T
Pros:
-readily available and higher in stock at most stores
-cannot injure your snake

Cons:
-less nutrients from freezing proccess
-some snakes prefer live or pre killed over a F/T food item

Have to say I strongly disagree with the 2 in red....Personally I don't believe that is true...Frozen are good up to about 6 months in the freezer.

[CoolioTiffany]

Oh and definitely listen to that first post. As your Ball python gets older it will be getting into larger prey items, and that means the risk of injury rises. When it's a baby, yeah you can feed it mice & rat pups with their eyes still closed and no harm will be done (for the snake's matter) since at that stage of a rodent's life they cannot see and that also means they cannot do anything so they can be left in with the snake for an extended period of time than you would leave (for example) an adult mouse in. But, as you get into larger prey items, definitely watch over because the rodents can and will eventually attack your snake if the snake did not try to constrict or kill it. Always make sure your snake has a good grip on it and the rodent's mouth is no where near at a point that it can bite the snake.

[CoolioTiffany]

Have to say I strongly disagree with the 2 in red....

Well, I don't know, that's what I read

[Imabur.]

Wednesday I'll go and buy a live mouse and feed him to my snake and just supervise while he's in the tank. I'm still nervouse though lol.

[iCandiBallPythons]

You'll be alright...I doubt you'll have any trouble but you can keep something handy like tongs/ hemos, or something you can wedge if need be.

[Elise.m]

I'd say watch a few videos on Youtube about live feedings. Just to cross your T's and dot your I's. I bet you'll be surprised at how natural it will come to your BP!

[Imabur.]

What's the difference between feeding in the housing that you keep your bp and a seperate tub or whatever for feeding..is there a reason for doing that? I feel like I've heard it on here somewhere before...

Ya, I'm sure he'll be fine, just having new owner nerves is all.