This is why you should NEVER feed live

[TimmyG]

Hi everyone, just a wee remind about why you shouldn't feed live rodents to your BPs.
I always pre-kill or do frozen thaw based on availability and this is exactly why. A bite like this could have really hurt my BP and may have allowed the rat to kill him if a live feeding was unsupervised. There are rare cased when live is ok, but by and large its a matter of snake safety. I'm glad to take one for Mr. Belt, and I'll be more glad when I'm cleaning this rat of the bottom of his tank.

[rabernet]

The bite looks superficial to me.

BP.net will always advocate that each owner feeds what works best for them.

For me and my crew of 50 ball pythons, live it is, and has always been. With over 13K feedings under my belt with less than 10 minor insignificant scratches, I'd say that the risk of feeding live is negligible when done properly.

I feed in the enclosures, the snakes hunt from their hides, which provides protection to the bodies, I feed calm, well fed and hydrated rodents that aren't in panic mode - I never EVER stun my prey.

I also won't tell people that they have to feed live, just because that's what I believe is best for my colony.

[Nate]

Tongs bro.

[xdeus]

You are aware that many large breeders will feed live rodents to hundreds of snakes a week, right? I feed a couple of my picky snakes live rats and have for years without one incident. I'm pretty sure that most snakes in the wild eat live prey as well.

Sure, accidents do happen, but they can with F/T prey as well. People will fail to thaw out the rodent or over cook it which will lead to a whole different set of problems for the snake.

As with any type of feeding, it's the responsibility of the owner to feed their animals correctly.

[PghBall]

I understand where you are coming from as I have been bitten by a rat before as well. So have both of my older kids. But, I do not think that it is a reason to "Never" feed live. I feed all of my snakes live and supervise all feedings. I know there is the chance that the snake may get a bite, but try to be ready with my tongs to avoid that happening. My feelings are that in the wild, they eat live prey and believe that live rats bring out a better feeding response in my snakes. To each their own though and I respect your opinion.

[ballpythonluvr]

I have fed live and f/t. It all depends on the snake and what they will eat for me. I have never had any live feeding mishaps. I am always standing by supervising in case anything should ever go wrong.

[loonunit]

Heh. I was thinking of offering a lived weaned rat to my mouse-only 2007 female, to see if I couldn't get her to at least try rats. (Just try 'em! Maybe you'll like 'em!) But looking at your hand, I admit now I'm having some second thoughts...

[Lolo76]

Ouch! I've been bitten by a rat too, and it really does hurt! But that being said, I feed all of my BPs live (both rats and mice) and haven't ever witnessed a snake getting bitten... like Rabernet, I feed in the enclosures and they hunt from their hides, so I think the risk is fairly minimal. Hey, they survive just fine eating live prey in the wild - right? To each his/her own, but I don't think rat bites are a reason to NEVER feed live.

[Brunoheart]

I'm pretty sure that most snakes in the wild eat live prey as well.

LOL, I love this! No offense to anyone, but this statement tickled me...

[sho220]

Heh. I was thinking of offering a lived weaned rat to my mouse-only 2007 female, to see if I couldn't get her to at least try rats. (Just try 'em! Maybe you'll like 'em!) But looking at your hand, I admit now I'm having some second thoughts...

A weaned rat would be fine. Just keep an eye on them while together. You can also take a mouse or mouse bedding and scent the rat to smell like mice. That sometimes helps get them switched...