Live prey vs......

[strikerratt]

I went with Prekilled since it is safer than live prey but 2 of my snakes will only take live prey to they eat live prey.

yes Prekilled is safer

[Adam_Wysocki]

yes Prekilled is safer

In my opinion ... responsible live feeding is just as safe as feeding pre-killed. I've been feeding live to many ball pythons for many years and have never had a single ball python bitten, scratched, or mauled.

Before we get our panties all twisted up, please note that I am only giving my OPINION based on the fairly decent amount of experience I have working with ball pythons and having tried feeding them live, frozen, and pre-killed.

Anyone that thinks live feeding is "dangerous" is certainly willing to stop by my shop any feeding day and watch a couple hundred live rats go "down the shoot" without incident

Again ... this is my OPINION ... breathe deep and get over it


-adam

[strikerratt]

In my opinion ... responsible live feeding is just as safe as feeding pre-killed. I've been feeding live to many ball pythons for many years and have never had a single ball python bitten, scratched, or mauled.

Before we get our panties all twisted up, please note that I am only giving my OPINION based on the fairly decent amount of experience I have working with ball pythons and having tried feeding them live, frozen, and pre-killed.

Anyone that thinks live feeding is "dangerous" is certainly willing to stop by my shop any feeding day and watch a couple hundred live rats go "down the shoot" without incident

Again ... this is my OPINION ... breathe deep and get over it


-adam

good opinion

[tigerlily]

I would definitely feed live if I could stand to breed the little boogers. All the threads reminded me how stinky they are. Thawing is a pain in the rear, added to the pain of having to sit there and dangle it for like 5-10 minutes (picky girls! - If the mouse isn't doing the right zombie mambo then they'll just wait until I get it right) but right now it's the easiest. No mousie cages to clean either.

Adam no twisted panties here!!

[Adam_Wysocki]

I would definitely feed live if I could stand to breed the little boogers. All the threads reminded me how stinky they are. Thawing is a pain in the rear, added to the pain of having to sit there and dangle it for like 5-10 minutes (picky girls! - If the mouse isn't doing the right zombie mambo then they'll just wait until I get it right) but right now it's the easiest. No mousie cages to clean either.

That's why I always advocate feeding whatever is most convenient for both the snake and the keeper. For some people F/T is much better, for me, it's easier to do live. If done responsibly either method can be safe.

Adam no twisted panties here!!

Don't get me started on panties Chrisite .... I'd definitely get myself in a WHOLE HEAP of trouble

-adam

[Smulkin]

If you feed live and supervise you should be fine.

I opt for p/k only because I feel better knowing I don't have to worry about bites.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion - and given responsible husbandry in the best interest of their herp should of course have the latitude to choose the approaches they feel are right for them whether that be housing, substrate or state of prey.

[VFT]

I feed F/T only. There are 2 reasons for this

1. The local pet shop charges $4-7 for a rat and they never have anything large. So as you can see I can do much better on Frozen online.

2. Well I simply prefer frozen. No need to breed (I don’t think the wife would want me breeding rats) no need to go out and buy them, wasting even more time at a pet shop that doesn’t know the difference between a ball python and a red tail boa.

Live has its purpose, let’s not forget ball pythons don’t go to a freezer in the wild.

My recommendation is try to get your animals on F/T, but if they refuse and prefer live then give them live.

[strikerratt]

i am on my way to the Pet Store to get a small rat 4 the pb & a Pinkie mouse 4 corn snake so i will be giving a p/k to the pb so we will see how it gos

[Adam_Wysocki]

1. The local pet shop charges $4-7 for a rat and they never have anything large. So as you can see I can do much better on Frozen online.

There's no reason to ever feed a ball python a large rat no matter how big it is. My biggest girls (the monsters) only get small rats.

Also, I pay well under $1 a rat at the quantities I buy, so it's actually cheaper for me to buy live.

Do you know what a pain in the dumper it would be to thaw a couple hundred rodents each week? I don't even know where I'd lay them out???

Live has its purpose, let’s not forget ball pythons don’t go to a freezer in the wild.

Exactly, ball pythons are instinctively live feeders. They have to be trained to eat dead prey. That's why for many people, F/T is out of the question.

My recommendation is try to get your animals on F/T, but if they refuse and prefer live then give them live.

Exactly, feed you animal what it will eat.

-adam

[tigerlily]

I'm so tempted to find out how MUCH trouble you could get yourself into Adam At the very least it would keep the mood light and I know I can always use a good laugh!