It seemed so wrong, but felt so right...

[BPelizabeth]

Wow...I think some ppl need to calm down on here. Geez.

I dont think Coco was "gloating or bragging". I think he had a panic moment since it was his first live feeding. I could probably tell you horror stories about my first live feeding when the mouse bit my snake. That would be accompanied with many foul words that came out of my mouth and an action I am not that proud of.

Bottom line...I will protect my babies!! And there are MANY pictures and MANY stories of rats and mice doing serious harm to snakes and even killing them.

If Coco (sorry that is my new nic name for you) wants to feed live then so be it. I prefer to feed live and honestly....my snakes prefer it. If it costs me more...I really don't care.

And there has been some other threads on here in regards to frozen and some of the dangers that they can pose as well.

Now I am not saying.....OMG...everyone run out and buy live. I am just saying geez give a fellow herper a break and stop getting so uptight!!!

[Bruceweb]

By calling my thoughts and beliefs "self centered & weak" and implying that I might enjoy harming animals is name calling to me, and unproductive at the least. I am unclear why you feel that protecting one’s own is cruelty, but if that’s how you feel that’s fine.

I don’t apologize for anything in relation to switching to live or protecting my animals. You state that you don’t have an issue with feeding live, but I might beg to differ. Also, I do believe that snakes can be harmed if live rodents are left unattended with a feeding snake.

I’d like to believe that if someone or something was posing a serious threat to your son, that you would use whatever means to impose upon that threat. I’m not talking about scrapping on the playground. If you chose to stand on principal alone and allowed your son to be seriously harmed, then our opinions are vastly different on matters greater than these.

I think you have a concience

[blackcrystal22]

If you're going to harm the animal in the process don't feed live IMO.

There isn't a reason to crush the feet. I've never seen a snake injured from scratching, usually it's from biting. Instead of crushing the feet you could have simply held them with the tongs..

Rats and mice deserve just as much respect as your snake does. If they are not killing the animal properly and risking their life then you should only feed f/t if they eat it. That is your judgment and responsibility.

[qiksilver]

Maiming any animal in that way is pretty horrific. I'm not sure how you justified that considering your hang-ups on feeding f/t are (have to go with Bruce on this one) personal and selfish.

Your reasoning doesn't add up, and if it were me, I would refuse to maim a creature like that, feeder or not. When I have had to feed live, I have treated my feeders with the respect they deserve as another living creature, no matter their place on the food chain. Sure they're dead either way. But I will not allow them to suffer that way by MY hand. awful.

[Bruceweb]

If you're going to harm the animal in the process don't feed live IMO.

There isn't a reason to crush the feet. I've never seen a snake injured from scratching, usually it's from biting. Instead of crushing the feet you could have simply held them with the tongs..

Rats and mice deserve just as much respect as your snake does. If they are not killing the animal properly and risking their life then you should only feed f/t if they eat it. That is your judgment and responsibility.

I have come to the conclusion that most injuries received are to snakes that are left in with prey items when not actually in feeding mode, occasionally the prey will become the predator..if a snake is in feeding mode, death comes very quickly, instantly in many cases dependant on the force of the strike, much of the movement from the prey is simply involuntary nerve movement..the key is simply to ensure that the snake is interested in feeding..if a snake strikes at the prey with out killing it it is not recommended to use that prey item again as it will see the snake as a predator & try to defend itself..my only point is feeding live is simply to feed not for pleasure as some seem to enjoy the act as more than it should be

[ballmom]

I have always fed live and so has the breeder that I get both my snakes and mice/rats from. I have never had a problem feeding this way and you need to remember that a snakes skin is tougher than you think so the kicking does nothing more than make the snake squeese tighter.

I would just like it if my snake would let the pray hit the floor of their tank before they eat the thing.

[Chocolate Muffin's]

Wow...I think some ppl need to calm down on here. Geez.

I dont think Coco was "gloating or bragging". I think he had a panic moment since it was his first live feeding. I could probably tell you horror stories about my first live feeding when the mouse bit my snake. That would be accompanied with many foul words that came out of my mouth and an action I am not that proud of.

Bottom line...I will protect my babies!! And there are MANY pictures and MANY stories of rats and mice doing serious harm to snakes and even killing them.

If Coco (sorry that is my new nic name for you) wants to feed live then so be it. I prefer to feed live and honestly....my snakes prefer it. If it costs me more...I really don't care.

And there has been some other threads on here in regards to frozen and some of the dangers that they can pose as well.

Now I am not saying.....OMG...everyone run out and buy live. I am just saying geez give a fellow herper a break and stop getting so uptight!!!

Amen!!!!!!!! I am in 100% agreement. Live rodents can and will harm snakes if they are unattended.

[Kaorte]

OP: I think you don't realize what kind of animal you are dealing with here. This is a snake. It is a killing machine. It is not a piece of porcelain.

The only serious rodent related injuries come from people leaving live feeders alone with a snake uninterested in eating. Supervising is one thing, crushing an animal while it is already being suffocated by your snake is another. The snake will do its job, don't mess with it.

I don't care if you feed live or f/t. I don't have a problem with either. I have a problem with irresponsibility. Keep an eye on your snake while feeding live. Don't leave a feeder alone with the snake for a long period of time and everything will be fine.

Please, no more mice crushing, that is just sad. Crushing an animals face is never going to make it "calm down".

[Bruceweb]

OP: I think you don't realize what kind of animal you are dealing with here. This is a snake. It is a killing machine. It is not a piece of porcelain.

The only serious rodent related injuries come from people leaving live feeders alone with a snake uninterested in eating. Supervising is one thing, crushing an animal while it is already being suffocated by your snake is another. The snake will do its job, don't mess with it.

I don't care if you feed live or f/t. I don't have a problem with either. I have a problem with irresponsibility. Keep an eye on your snake while feeding live. Don't leave a feeder alone with the snake for a long period of time and everything will be fine.

Please, no more mice crushing, that is just sad. Crushing an animals face is never going to make it "calm down".

Well said!

[Chocolate Muffin's]

I have always fed live and so has the breeder that I get both my snakes and mice/rats from. I have never had a problem feeding this way and you need to remember that a snakes skin is tougher than you think so the kicking does nothing more than make the snake squeese tighter.

I would just like it if my snake would let the pray hit the floor of their tank before they eat the thing.

Now that's an interesting point that I haven't heard and I think Bruce's point is interesting too: I didn't take into account the thickness or durability of the snake's skin. I have always read that rodents could inflict serious injury to a snake with their feet, paws and hands. I have never read or interpreted this in the context of the feeding response as Bruce mentioned. Very interesting. I guess I'm fortunate to have good eaters so far, but down the line, I will keep this in mind.