Shed, and stund the rat questions

[ClarkT]

First, how often, when a snake is growing, do they tend to shed?

Second, how do you "stun" a live rat for the snake. And if they don't take it, do you end up just killing the rat?

Also, has anyone tried feeding live with wild-caught mice? Any problems with that?

[bsash]

First, how often, when a snake is growing, do they tend to shed?

Second, how do you "stun" a live rat for the snake. And if they don't take it, do you end up just killing the rat?

Also, has anyone tried feeding live with wild-caught mice? Any problems with that?

My ball pythons have always shed every 2-3 months when being fed once a week, less if they decide to go off feed for the winter. Snakes will shed regardless of how much and often they eat, so it will vary with each snake.

I stun my rats by whacking them on the head with a miniature baseball bat. You could also kill them the same way, which may make it easier.

You should not feed wild caught mice/ rats to any snake. You never know if they ate poison, which would then kill your snake, or if they have any other harmful diseases that could harm your snake.

Hope that helps.

[seeya205]

A growing snake usually sheds about every 6 weeks! I also would not feed wild mice as you don't know where they have been! I throw in my rats live and just watch until my snake has coiled it for a minute or two and the rat stops moving! Never had any injuries so far!!!

[snakesRkewl]

Live all the way.

ratsRkewl, no stunning here