Technique for feeding live prey?

[carrie77]

Hey everyone.. Looking for some help with a BP that won't seem to eat. We've had the snake for just over 5 weeks now and he will not touch a frozen thawed so we have decided to try a live mouse. Just looking for some tips or suggestions on how to do this properly.. Thanks in advance!

[bsash]

All you need to do is supervise the feeding. If the mouse goes to bite, put the tongs in its mouth to stop it from doing so. Most will have no problems and just eat the mouse, but some may fight back, that is all you need to prevent.

[hunter94]

First put some paper towels down in a feeding box/bin. You don't have to do this next step but I do, spray down the paper towels tell damp. Put your BP in and then put the mouse in and watch them to make sure the mouse doesn't attack the snake. And then wait. =)

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Live the feeder near your cage for 1 hour prior to feeding this will entice your BP to eat.

Drop the mouse in the enclosure.

Remove the feeder if not eaten within 20 minutes.

[Oxylepy]

I grab them with hemostats by the scruff of the neck, and keep them on the opposite side of the enclosure of the snake. But I dont feed live often.

[PghBall]

I just drop in the live mouse/rat and keep an eye on it. As Deborah mentioned above, take it out if your snake does not eat it after 20 mins.

[WingedWolfPsion]

I've found it's safer just to place the rodent in the bin with the snake, on the opposite side from the snake, and keep it calm. A frightened, struggling rodent is more dangerous than one that is just nervous and curious. A snake can approach a calm rodent slowly, and find the best angle to attack from.

If your snake strikes at the rodent defensively, and doesn't eat it, beware when you go to remove it--that rodent is going to want out, and it will go through anything to escape.

[Lolo76]

Throw it in, and let the snake do his thing! Seriously, that's about all there is to it... but as the others mentioned, you do have to supervise & remove it within 15-20 minutes if they don't eat. I feed all of my BPs live mice (the colubrids & Australian pythons usually get f/t) in their enclosures, and haven't had a feeding "accident" or incident yet. It takes a good 30-45 minutes to feed and supervise everyone, especially since most of them get multiple mice... but I still find it easier than frozen, and waste less than I do with f/t prey. Good luck!

[rabernet]

Live the feeder near your cage for 1 hour prior to feeding this will entice your BP to eat.

Drop the mouse in the enclosure.

Remove the feeder if not eaten within 20 minutes.

^
This - no need for a separate feed enclosure, especially for one that's refusing right now. Often moving them will also put them off food. Just feed in the enclosure.

[cinderbird]

if the snake is obviously interested in the food, but happens to be a bad striker I'd leave the mouse in for a little more. I've had some babies take 45 minutes to figure it out before.

If the snake is still hiding and is not interested in the rodent, remove after 20 mins like others suggested.

I would ABSOLUTELY go with the pre-scenting method.