Do you ever feel bad feeding live?

[sorakitty]

I don't see any problem as long as the snake owner is willing to feed live. They don't have to be comfortable with it, but as long as they are willing to there's no issue. I really like pigs; I feel bad when they die, but it doesn't keep me from eating bacon for breakfast.

Sorry, couldn't help but quote this. I raised pigs (don't know if everyone else has or if you have) and even though they are cute as little piglets, they get ugly the fatter they get. ^^ But they are incredible smart, and have tried more then one time to flip my father on to his back as he cleaned out their water dish. Along with knowing to avoid the steel crate. Until it came to the last one, when she willingly went in, and then looked for the others when she got to the farm where they all humanly euthanized. Okay, sorry again.


Anyways, I fed the girl today. And even though the mouse was just adorable, it's the way of life. I don't mean to sound crude, but whats the difference between feeding the snake mice in captivity, or the wild ones catching their own food? -shrugs- Though I would never be able to kill the mouse myself, I wouldn't be able to stomach that. And I didn't even watched her eat, just strike it.

[trikesorz]

I've been forced to feed f/t ever since I moved back to Alabama. I prefer feeding live but I can't find any were to buy them

[BigBlue56]

But turn that around. This guy has 38 snakes. I'm sure he didn't go out and buy all 38 at one time. Now all of a sudden, the wife says the snake HAVE TO GO. I see you removed the part in your reply about if he talked to you like that, you'd be out the door. Well, how do you think this guy feels? He's got a nice hobby going on, then his wife says he HAS to get them out of their house. No request, but a demand.

That's where the situation went bad in my view. She doesn't want their blood on her hands or something like that. What a line.

Jim Smith

Thats what I'm saying. Its one thing if the snakes are brand new and she just cant get passed having a snake in that house, but that clearly isnt the case..

After living years with animals, you cant just turn around and say they have to go.. But our daughter can keep her 3.

Its kinda selfish of her in my opinion. These arent just animals, they are pets.. They are family members.

[BigBlue56]

Yes, I would feel bad. Thats why I feed F/T since day one.

I cant bare to hear the little screams as they are being devoured.. Its like a bad song you cant get out of your head.. Except this one makes you sad lol.

[BrianaK]

sometimes I feel bad feeding live since I have had rats as pets before.

I feel especially bad feeding the chunky, cute lil baby rats. I pull them out of the bag and they are just so freakin adorable, but I know that if they aren't going to my snakes, they are going to someone else's anyway...

I've had rats as pets too, so frozen is hard enough. I don't know how people do live. I wouldn't be able to look at my Stanley the same way ever again. Haha

[PurplePython]

How does feeling bad about feeding your snake mice/rats mean you shouldn't own a snake? Get real. I feel terrible for the mouse everytime I feed my Ball Python. I get attached to the mice I breed. It's very tough picking one out.... It's almost like they know they are going to be eaten a few seconds after aI take them away from the others.

I am not just a "Ball Python" guy. I LOVE animals in general; not just snakes. I own Hamsters and a Bunny as pets so feeding off smaller rodents like mice and rats is pretty sad for me to do. But I have no problem doing it because thats what snakes eat and I care about their well being just as much as any other animal.

[AcePythons]

If you feel bad feeding your snake...you shouldn't own it. Give the snake to someone who will feed it and go buy a goldfish.

I dont feel bad feeding them, just kinda think "aww " when I hear the little "EEEKKK!" but then it's over and done with and I'm over it.

I still haven't switched to f/t yet...I'm so terrified of defrosting incorrectly. I'm a germaphobe as it is....I have arguments with my BF all the time about how long we have to keep leftovers. (I say no more than 2 - 3 days MAX and he's like..."Psshh! A week is good!" .... I want to slap him haha)

I'm just afraid of the bacteria or if I put them in too warm/hot of water that they'll "cook" ...

I think it stems from my very first attempt to defrost a VERY large rat for my red tail about 4 years ago. I put it in a bag and then put it in some WAY too hot of water... my tiny little apartment I was in smelled like cooked rat for TWO WHOLE DAYS...I was more than tempted to take my dog and myself to a hotel until the stench was gone.

OMG *barf!!*

So yeah...that is why I haven't switched yet haha.

[BallsUnlimited]

not at all. if i have a snake that i need to feed live to i have no problems with it. Its either feed the snake live rats\mice or the snake dies.

[MikeV]

Lol, when I go to my buddies house and we feed his snake live we blare the song "Me against the world" by Tupac Shakur as we lower the rat into the enclosure

I know, we are terrible LOL

[stormshadow]

Curious as to how most people kill their mice. I'm a scientist and do a lot of mouse work. Gas is commonly used to kill them but personally i prefer cevical dislocation (neck break). IMO it is very quick and painless and easy to do if you know how.

Also, what type of mice do people use? We have several strains of which the white mice are the most easy to handle. They pretty much just sit theuir like they've been drugged or smoked to much weed. I'm not sure if a snake would go for one of these since they don't move much