Hello

[Chris1974]

Hello Everyone! Not sure if I am posting this in the right section, but here goes anyways. My name is Chris. I am a new member, and this is my first time owning a herp. I am from the Houston area. I have a Ball Python that I got about a 1 1/2 months ago. The best I can guess, she is 3-4 months old, and I LOVE HER!!!

I come from a different forum (I won't mention the name) that I didn't like. I am a live feeder, and apparently, the people on the other site don't like that too much, and weren't afraid to tell me about it. I search the forums looking for information, and support- not judgement! Just becuase I choose to feed my snake live prey, doesn't mean that I don't love her. It's just a choice that I have made after tons of research and thought.

This site appears to be much closer to what I am looking for. So, I just thought I would give a quick hello shout, and say in advance, thanks for the warm welcome!!

[PghBall]

Welcome to the site. I am still quite new myself but from what I gather, there is a good mix of live and F/T feeders here on this site and none seem to be critical of the others. I feed my six balls live as well. I just don't leave them unattended while I'm feeding them. If they do not take the mouse\rat within 20 minutes, I put it back with the rest of my feeders.

[XGetSome]

Chris, Welcome to BP.net

Just a little info for you. Large scale breeders such as BHB reptiles, and the like often times feed live. I feed live WHEN I HAVE TO. Sometimes its easier to feed live, it took me hours to feed my snakes when they didnt like frozen, and I found some of my snakes will ONLY eat live. Its a good Idea to try to wean them off of Live, but not absolutely necessary. Advice though, dont leave live rats or mice in the Ball pythons cage if your girl doesnt eat it. The rats or mice can and WILL bite your ball python if your not careful.

Enjoy your stay here Chris.

[Chris1974]

Thanks for the welcome!!!

I never leave my baby, Shelby, alone when feeding. Not only do I find it fascinating and don't want to miss it, but I watch just to make sure nothing bad happens. I have read way too many horror stories about what happens to a snake that is left alone with a live mouse/rat. I like to think that I am pretty good at reading her, and I can usually tell within a couple of minutes if she isn't interrested in eating. So, if she's not going to eat, I will pull the rat out and try again the next day.

Actually, my girlfriend told me about this site. She and I purchased our snakes at the same time, and she was a member on the other site as well. She feeds live too, and got just as much critisizing as I did for feeding live, so she sent me a link to this site and here I am!!

Thanks again for the welcome!!! (oh, and I see that I did in fact post this in the wrong section! lol)

[Wh00h0069]

I'm a live feeder too, so no flaming here.

[k2l3d4]

Welcome.... I am a F/T feeder for my baby male BP and my boyfriend has two 3 yr old sisters. One will only hit live..... You offer her f/t and she will not even touch it. Her sister on the other hand eats f/t ... So i think that it depends upon the snake what you feed it. I just do not like mice so would rather handle them once they are dead.

[Chris1974]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! Feels like home already!! lol

[EJ45]

Welcome from down the road in Victoria. Ive learned a lot from all the info here in regards to better caring for my first snake as well.

[llovelace]

Chris , I'm a live feeder also one of quite a few here.

[pavlovk1025]

Welcome. I feed live too! Probably switching to F/t for cost effectiveness though. Wife won't let me breed my own feeders. =/ Enjoy your stay!