Feeding Live VS Frozen

[dakski]

Be right back , just gonna get some popcorn



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What kind of popcorn did you end up making?

[AlexisFitzy]

What kind of popcorn did you end up making?

If its some kettle corn I’d love some!


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[Stewart_Reptiles]

It's about feeding what works for you and your snakes and be educated on the subject what other think or do is irrelevant, I have fed well over 25000 live preys (probably over double that even) over the past decade with no issue, I have fed several thousands of F/T prey with no issue either.

I will saying it again EDUCATION is key regardless of what you chose.

[Crowfingers]

I have no ethical problems feeding live - as long as it is humane. Trying to "stun" the prey just makes it injured, scared, and in pain - not fair to the rodent or the snake that is now dealing with a prey item that is confused and defensive.

Feeding frozen in more convenient for me (I only have one snake) as he goes on hunger strikes regularly. . . this would leave me with a live rodent that I now have to care for until my snake is ready to eat. Not too big of a problem, I actually love rats as pets, but I'd either get attached or have a feeder rat that hated my guts and was a pain to deal with.

I've fed live prey to at least 80 different species of predator, from reptiles and birds to mammals - it always comes with a risk (unless the prey is something helpless). But even feeding live crickets to a small lizard can end with a lizard with a chewed up tail. The risk is always there and as long as you are capable and willing to deal with accidents then feeding live is fine. Snakes get bit in the wild, some heal some get infections - its' part of being a predator. But since in captivity I can offer safer (if less natural) options then I will.

[Aedryan Methyus]

admit it, you're really off to get the blow drier !!!

LMAO!!!

I'm done playing games with Ball Pythons trying to keep them eating frozen/thawed on any sort of consistent basis!

[Craiga 01453]

admit it, you're really off to get the blow drier !!!

Hahahaha, well played, Zina!!

Sorry, Zinc, but one point Zina on this one, hahahahaha.

Man I love this community. So many good people and many have become friends from all over the world. Good stuff!

[Craiga 01453]

OP, I think what Deborah said is very important. Either can work, it's a matter of what works for you and the snake and being PROPERLY EDUCATED.

I personally feed F/T to all my snakes, but have fed live in the past.

For me, if the snakes eat the F/T prey it makes the most sense for the following reasons:
- Frozen prey can't fight back = safe for the snake
- I can buy bulk and store months worth of prey in my freezer = cheap and easy
- If prey isn't eaten and there isn't another snake to feed it to you're not stuck housing a live mouse/rat.

Bottom line: do what's best for you and your animal. Just take the time and care to do it right.

-

[Zincubus]

Yes, controversial subject for sure.

I will give my opinion and state some facts. Keep in mind, I am not telling you what to do or what you should do, just what I do and why.

I only feed F/T. I believe most snakes, especially young snakes, and even picky BP's can be switched to F/T. There are rare occasions where it won't happen, but I think many cases where it doesn't happen it has more to do with lack of patience and persistence, lack of desire, or it's a young snake and the owner/breeder just wants to make sure it eats.

Okay a fact: A live rat can injure, possibly badly, a BP, even if you are watching it happen. I think it's much easier to intervene when the snake is not interested in feeding and you just have to remove the rat. Not so easy when a snake gets a bad strike and/or the rat fights back, hurting the snake. What could you do while that is happening?

My opinion: Live feeding is more natural, but nature isn't always safe, convenient, or humane.

I think it's cruel to the prey item, I think it's dangerous to the snake, and it's downright inconvenient, especially if you have multiple snakes. Who wants to get a bunch of live rats, bring them home, etc. I just take food out of the freezer, defrost, and done. Plus, if my BP, for instance, who fasts in the winter, doesn't want to eat, what do I do with a live rat? I don't like babysitting rats, thank you.

Many people think snakes enjoy hunting and killing. They do it to eat, period. I do not believe they have the capacity to enjoy the kill. They are just hungry and doing what is necessary. We anthropomorphize animal behaviors often. We are very different than snakes, in many ways. Humans can enjoy killing something, even take pride in it, but snakes cannot.

All my snakes, a BP, a corn, and BCI, are healthy weights, eat F/T happily, and have their entire lives, or the majority. There are no ill effects to the snake feeding F/T and risks to feeding live.

I know some people are convinced that it's difficult to switch a snake over, and it can be. However, I have had experience switching an adopted adult BP (I believe wild caught as well), who only ate live, to switch to F/T. I know, that's one example, and it took a lot of persistence and time. However, it worked. Again, may not work in all cases, but I was determined. This was also many moons ago, so please don't test me on time it took, etc.

In my experience, most snakes switch no problem, provided the prey is appropriate size, frozen and then defrosted properly, and offered in a way the snake likes, which often means simulating that is alive.

Bottom line/Conclusion: I do not think there are many, if any, advantages to the snake by feeding live.

Again, my opinion, and I do not judge other people who hunt, fish, feed live prey to their snakes, etc. These are just things I don't do because I have trouble seeing any animal be hurt or killed.

^ THIS ^

and ...




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[CALM Pythons]

^ THIS ^

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You should of seen my Daughters face when she came into her room and i had a pile of rats on the floor heating them up with her blow drier last night hahahahahaha. God I cant wait until I get rid of all these Frozen. PITB.


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[zina10]

^ THIS ^

and ...




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See, I knew it !

Zinc, its time for a upgrade, though.

Check this out, and its a Dyson !!!





The Dyson Supersonic, which will retail for $399, has been four years, $71 million, and 600 prototypes in the making. It features four heat settings, a cool shot, and three airflow settings. It claims to be able to stabilize the dryer temperature so it doesn't get too hot, which can cause hair RODENT damage, and to control airflow to ensure a fast, controlled drying and styling session.

This is like no hair dryer you've ever seen. While most hair dryers are top heavy and have a barrel that's longer than the handle to accommodate a motor at the back, this one has an itty-bitty but very powerful motor in the handle instead. The stubby dryer with the hollow barrel looks odd, but it's actually much easier to hold and makes it feel lighter in the hand and less awkward. Your rodents will look deliciously fluffy and stylish, and be at the precise temperature needed. No arm fatigue after re-blowdrying for the 13th time, either. Your snakes will be impressed and most likely you have to re-blowdry on average 6 times less often then usual.