Is live feeding really that bad?

[se7en]

I feed live, and watch carefully with the tongs ready to intervene. even still, a few of my snakes have scars from rat bites where I was unable to get the tongs in to prevent such actions.

[DennisM]

...Now there is a civil mutual understanding.

for the most part. like any "debate" there will always be those who believe their way is the right way and that is that. This topic will continue to arise as newcomers enter the hobby and are exposed to adamant proponents of one method or another. The bottom line will always be this; IRRESPONSIBLE live feeding really is that bad, as is any other IRRESPONSIBLE husbandry practice. Fortunately, when this topic arises here on bp.net, we tend to get informed and intelligent responses from experienced keepers that outline the proper practices for live feeding rather than blustering tirades from extremist on either side of the fence. the community's willingness to educate rather than lecture (even on a topic that just won't go away) is what makes this site such a valuable resource to newcomers to our hobby.

[Zincubus]

Still can't understand anyone feeding live . I'd feel so bad for the rodent so it won't be happening plus I've heard reports of mice age rats crying for ages whilst they're being constricted ( supposedly sounds like a human baby crying !) . Also I care far too much for my precious snakes to rusk them being bitten or scratched causing infections or worse and scarring . Check out the thousands of online photos of bitten / scratched snakes . Many lose an eye . Why on earth take the risk when you can defrost and simply heat up for ten seconds with a hair dryer ..

Just my take on things ..

[John1982]

People have been feeding live as long as they've been keeping reptiles - do it right, do it responsibly, and you should be fine. What's relatively new to the hobby are these big frozen rodent suppliers that ship product directly to your door. In the past, if you wanted to feed your reptiles, you basically needed someone local supplying prey items or you had to breed/collect them yourself. Feeding f/t is more convenient than it's ever been but that doesn't automatically make it the righteous choice. When mass production of a living creature is the name of the game, you're going to find your fair share of appalling animal treatment and living conditions. Another thing is the ever growing popularity of keeping reptiles as pets - which is a positive overall but there will always be that percentage of folks who just shouldn't own a pet, much less one that strikes fear and loathing in the majority. With the increase in keepers you also get an increasing number of bad eggs in the bunch who seem to do their darndest to shed a bad light on the hobby overall. Which leads me to probably the biggest, and definitely the most recent, addition of social media - everyone is an expert, everyone is right, everything is true.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Still can't understand anyone feeding live . I'd feel so bad for the rodent so it won't be happening plus I've heard reports of mice age rats crying for ages whilst they're being constricted ( supposedly sounds like a human baby crying !) . Also I care far too much for my precious snakes to rusk them being bitten or scratched causing infections or worse and scarring . Check out the thousands of online photos of bitten / scratched snakes . Many lose an eye . Why on earth take the risk when you can defrost and simply heat up for ten seconds with a hair dryer ..

Just my take on things ..

Just as I predicted

So how many of your snakes have lost an eye because they have been feeding live, how many have scars, or infection? Oh yeah that's right none because you have ZERO EXPERIENCE feeding live, and yet you are still advocating the same thing based on hearsay and some 10 years old picture that people keep bringing back up and that do not even reflect live feeding.

Many lose their eyes? Funny I have fed well over 20000 live preys (probably more) in the past few years and everyone still have their eyes.

Bottom line what you feed YOUR animal is YOUR business, stop trying to scare people off based on what YOU believe, or fear or read. Try educating people instead and do so based on EXPERIENCE.

[200xth]

Still can't understand anyone feeding live . I'd feel so bad for the rodent so it won't be happening plus I've heard reports of mice age rats crying for ages whilst they're being constricted ( supposedly sounds like a human baby crying !) . Also I care far too much for my precious snakes to rusk them being bitten or scratched causing infections or worse and scarring . Check out the thousands of online photos of bitten / scratched snakes . Many lose an eye . Why on earth take the risk when you can defrost and simply heat up for ten seconds with a hair dryer ..

Just my take on things ..

Just so everyone is aware of your experience level with live feeding, how many live feedings have you done in your lifetime?

[FranklinMorphs]

In a past life my business partner and I did live feeding, mainly because I wasn't well educated at the time, he didn't like having to thaw frozens and it meant at least one of us got to go into our favorite local reptile shop to buy feeders at least once a week. He was not diligent though and decided to leave live rats in tubs with snakes overnight on two separate occasions, the first was not immediately fatal to the snake, but I doubt she ever fully recovered, and the other was fatal by morning. I blame this entirely on the business partner, not the snake or the rat, but it can happen.

I my newest endeavor however, I'll be going it strictly with frozen thawed. Not because of the "danger" of live feeding, but for the cost savings and the convenience. Sure, it takes a bit longer to thaw them out and prep them for a meal, but I have the time. I have an old lady, 4 furries and soon to be several rabbits I have to make the rounds with every day, so adding one rat thaw meal every few days is no big deal at all.

[Zincubus]

It's a forum . Surely you want a balanced view .??

[Zincubus]

Just so everyone is aware of your experience level with live feeding, how many live feedings have you done in your lifetime?

I've never been to the sun but I know it's bladdy hot !

[Zincubus]

Just as I predicted

So how many of your snakes have lost an eye because they have been feeding live, how many have scars, or infection? Oh yeah that's right none because you have ZERO EXPERIENCE feeding live, and yet you are still advocating the same thing based on hearsay and some 10 years old picture that people keep bringing back up and that do not even reflect live feeding.

Many lose their eyes? Funny I have fed well over 20000 live preys (probably more) in the past few years and everyone still have their eyes.

Bottom line what you feed YOUR animal is YOUR business, stop trying to scare people off based on what YOU believe, or fear or read. Try educating people instead and do so based on EXPERIENCE.

So I can comment or offer an opinion as long as its the same as yours . How bizarre !