That was the last time! I hope...

[withonor]

Many moons ago I bought my first ball python. I would feed him in the bathtub. I was living with my parents at the time, and didn't think about the chemicals that were used to clean the tub. To make a long story short, my ignorance almost killed him. I caused my ball ot have chemical burns on his belly. I highly recommend you don't put him into the tub.

Nice snake by the way. I love the pattern. Thanks for sharing your story.

Marc

That's a great point, thanks. Being the only user/cleaner of that tub right now I know exactly what's going on with it but that won't always be the case so this is definately something to keep in mind for the future.

[withonor]

This will be a growing process for you and for Zeke, who by the way is a STUNNER!

Here's how I think about the death of one animal and the life of another. As humans (also a species that I frequently think less than highly off),
death is, at it's very base, a part of life. One can not have life without death. Nothing that lives will escape death. Weather your a Christian, Buddhist, atheist, it simply is what it is. Unless you are a strict vegetarian you take place in the death of animals as food for another animal. (Almost no vegetarians are strict vegetarians but there are some. This means you do not use any product that has animal used in it's creation or it's composition) It is far more noble to recognize that and learn to be unflinching in feeding your snake. It is more honest.

This is a growing process for me, he's a seasoned veteran. Haha

Point well taken. I do often joke that as I get older I become more of a vegetarian but the reality is we're omnivores so that's not really natural. Being a vegetarian is a psychological choice most of the time, not physical, so most of them to the best of there knowledge are not consuming animal products. But in the great processed society of America it's nearly impossible to avoid.

[Artistry Exotics]

Congrats on your new snake! He's quite the looker.

I know it can be hard to feed live to snakes, emotionally. I have to distance myself from the whole thing, not allow myself to get attached to the rodent. I've had lots of pet rodents in the past, especially rats. I'll admit.. the first rat that my first snake, Harvey, refused... is now a pet even though I promised myself I wouldn't do that. I've gotten all but one of my snakes to eat frozen/thawed now, and most of them took to it right away - it's easier and also a lot cheaper for me.

[Moofins07]

Well, that kept me entertained.

VERY nice reduced banded male you've got there. And I can understand why you felt bad - I had a pet rat that looked exactly like that one. I love rats (hate mice), but I also love my snake. She's still on mice, but when the time comes, I will have to do it.

[withonor]

Congrats on your new snake! He's quite the looker.

I know it can be hard to feed live to snakes, emotionally. I have to distance myself from the whole thing, not allow myself to get attached to the rodent. I've had lots of pet rodents in the past, especially rats. I'll admit.. the first rat that my first snake, Harvey, refused... is now a pet even though I promised myself I wouldn't do that. I've gotten all but one of my snakes to eat frozen/thawed now, and most of them took to it right away - it's easier and also a lot cheaper for me.

I get attached the first time I look at an animal that is in my possession. I really hope my snake will take to F/T rats. It will be cheaper for me also considering live rats are about $4 where I live so the $55 shipping charge that most online dealers have still comes out to be less as long as I get 30-40 rats. I got a quote from Big Cheese for 30 rats it would be $70.95 which would be perfect except that they had a terrible loss recently because of a power outage, losing 70% of their rats, so they won't have any available till the end of December.

If I had two or more snakes food would be a real bargain online... Maybe I should get another...

[withonor]

Well, that kept me entertained.

VERY nice reduced banded male you've got there. And I can understand why you felt bad - I had a pet rat that looked exactly like that one. I love rats (hate mice), but I also love my snake. She's still on mice, but when the time comes, I will have to do it.

Reduced banded... I do think he looks great but I am still trying to learn patterns and colors and their designations. There are very few that are obvious (To me at this point).

I'm with you on that. He depends on me and I will not let him down, no matter how comfortable I am with it.

[withonor]

Nearly every guide I read prior to getting a ball python said that feeding should be done outside of the enclosure to reduce the chance of getting bit. Everyone here says that feeding in the enclosure is fine and actually better for the snake. This must be the difference between having a snake as a pet and loving your animals. As long as I handle him more often than I feed him I should be okay. I will start feeding him in his tank to reduce the stress of the process.

[AmandaRisher]

I feed my baby in her tank, but I also hold her everyday. She doesnt even seem to want to bite. Ive had to reach in there to move her hide while my husband was scenting the room with her mousey, and she didnt even pay attention to me. I think your right about it being all about them being loved pets or not.

[blushingball419]

First of all, that is a BEAUTIFUL reduced pattern bp you have there

I know exactly how you feel. I'm an animal lover too (although I completely agree with you about Homo sapiens), and my ball python absolutely refuses to eat frozen thawed. My corn snakes are more or less eating machines and will eat anything you put in front of them, but my girl will have none of it. And although I don't really care for mice personally, I still feel a twinge of guilt every time I buy one and drop it in with her. I just try not to think about it and tell myself that I love my snake more and she has to eat. But still I do feel bad, and my family doesn't help when they're always asking me "how can you do it?" and "oh that poor little mouse" etc. I really never want to have to feed her rats...that's going to be tough.

So yeah, you can try to switch him to frozen thawed. It is probably better in many ways...but if he's been eating live mice his whole life, it might be difficult.

I agree that you shouldn't feed him in the bathtub, the shower curtain being the main reason I feed all of my snakes in a separate container (sterilite) just so they don't accidentally ingest any of their bedding, but you can definitely feed him in his enclosure too. If you do have to feed him live again though, make sure to remove any decorations from the tank so they don't get in the way.

Good luck, and I hope you can convert him to f/t. You really do have a nice snake there regardless. Just know that you're not the only one who feels bad about feeding live. Sometimes it ends up being a necessary evil though unfortunately

[PolkaDotPenguin]

Wow you are an awesome writer! Congrats on your new snake!

But warning: They becoming very addicting!!!