The Live vs F/T debate

[Gio]

I don't understand these threads sometimes. They seem to cause unnecessary tension when presented like this.

I'm certain there are several VERY experienced folks here that have tried feeding both ways, and maybe, like myself mix it up from time to time.


I'll bet if I met Deborah or any other member in person, and watched them work through their collection I'd learn a thing or two. And maybe if they watched me do a few things, they'd get an idea or two.

Everybody has a way that works for them, and maybe there is risk and maybe not.

Here is one thing about live I didn't know until last year, and don't like.

IBD is "linked" to live rodents. http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2012/08/125...isease-decoded

However, I have a royal that goes off food, for 6-7 months at a time. Somebody mentioned "kick start" with live. I agree, and even though I could maybe wait it out, I don't want to always waste 3-4 rats prior to that, or spend long periods trying to stimulate a feed response when I have other pressing activities that same day.

That said, F/T is easiest and I prefer it, but there is nothing wrong with a live feed now and then.

Any prey item that takes "25 minutes" to dispatch is not a properly sized or something is wrong. I don't know what was happening in that example, but there was some obvious problem.

ALL feeds I've done with appropriately sized prey have succumbed to the constriction in 2.5 minutes and sometimes less. One could argue certain methods of pre-killing are just as "cruel" as the natural process of a snake constricting, which not only stops breathing but creates total cardiac failure do to the extreme pressure on the vascular system. Minus the bite the process causes blackout and heart stoppage. In perfect practice its rather quick.

I do feel empathy for the prey, however the hunting, and constriction tactics of snakes is what many of us are fascinated by and we accept their process of predation.

As far as prey having a "chance" in the wild, I'd tend to lean away from that assessment. Snakes are MASTERS of ambush, at least the non foragers are. If a boa constrictor plants itself near a prey trail and lies motionless for a month, and they can and will; there is going to be little if any chance that passing prey is going to have any chance to get away.

Snakes don't set up hunts with a margin of failure like some mammals do. Total surprise, extreme speed and minimal risk is their specialty. If that wasn't the case, they'd have huge open territory and a collectively different set of hunting skills. Snakes dry spells are usually not determined by the prey escaping, but rather the lack of prey in their range.

The "chance" any rodent has from not being a prey item in captivity ends the second it is classified as a feeder by a human.


That was a bit more than I wanted to write here.

Each keeper has a method that works. Hopefully everything is done to ensure the safety to the snake, and the prey item has fair treatment up until the end should you feed live.

For my situation F/T's is better, but again everybody has a method they are comfortable with.