feeding live or dead rats?

[jmitch]

I am going to feed for the first time. I am changing her to rats as I was told it will make life easier down the road. I was wondering do you guys feed live or dead. I have read and it seems that there is 50 50 out look on this.

[ballpythonluvr]

I have two smaller snakes that readily accept f/t prey and my big male normal only eats live mice. So I say do whatever works best for you and your snake.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I mainly feed live, F/T is only when I have surplus since I breed my own feeder.

No matter what YOU chose should only be based on being informed, knowing your options and finding what works and is convenient to YOU. There are pros and cons with both methods and both methods need to be done responsibly.

Now since it is the first feeding with you however I will say this feed live for at least a couple of meals (your priority at this point is for your animal to eat for you) than if you wish you can attempt to switch once the animal is well established, if that's your choice

[CCfive]

For the sake of your snake, I would strongly recommend that you make every effort to feed f/t. There are too many stories of prey items doing horrific damage to snakes. There are some snakes out there that will only take live, but don't give up too quickly when trying to make the switch. With patience and work most snakes can be switched. Good luck, and if you have any problems ask for help. There are many different techniques you can use and plenty of people here willing to help you through it.

[ballpythonluvr]

For the sake of your snake, I would strongly recommend that you make every effort to feed f/t. There are too many stories of prey items doing horrific damage to snakes. There are some snakes out there that will only take live, but don't give up too quickly when trying to make the switch. With patience and work most snakes can be switched. Good luck, and if you have any problems ask for help. There are many different techniques you can use and plenty of people here willing to help you through it.

There are many breeders on here that feed live only and have never had any incidents. Can it happen? Yes. Both methods of feeding can be dangerous if not done properly or without supervision. I have not had any incidents with my male normal that will only take live mice. I have tried every method you can think of to get him to take f/t prey, but he will just not accept it. I always supervise the live feedings and have not had any problems thus far.

[jmitch]

I am going try a f/t since I have one and see what she does. How often do you guys dangle it in front of them for? If she acts like she wants it but wont strike does it mean she is hungry but not wanting f/t.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

There are too many stories of prey items doing horrific damage to snakes.

Too many? How many exactly? Because the only horrific damage I have ever seen on BP due to live feeding were ONLY attributed to negligence (leaving a rodent with no food or water for days in the snake enclosure is not a proper feeding technique)

I don't think people should feed f/t based on fear especially on fear of something that is in no way related to proper feeding technique, I believe people need to be educated and feed responsibly and chose what works for them based on knowledge.

I feed over 200 preys a months each month without a hitch and definitely no horrific story here and I am not the only one.

[Kinra]

I feed F/T but only because I'm not currently in a situation where I can breed my own feeders so it's cheaper because I can buy in bulk.

I am going try a f/t since I have one and see what she does. How often do you guys dangle it in front of them for? If she acts like she wants it but wont strike does it mean she is hungry but not wanting f/t.

Feeding f/t can be interesting. I have some that want to take it before I can even get their tub open and some that I have to wait for. If she doesn't take it right away you can leave it in there for a little while and see if she will just eat it. When they don't take it after about an hour or two usually I will warm it up again and re-offer it. Sometimes they will take it then, if they don't I leave it in over night and if it's still there in the morning I take it.

Another thing, I've had some strike at food and it looked defensive, but on the second or third strike they will actually take it. If she is in her hide, don't move her out of it, dangle it in front of the opening. I have a lot that like to eat this way.

[rabernet]

For the sake of your snake, I would strongly recommend that you make every effort to feed f/t. There are too many stories of prey items doing horrific damage to snakes. There are some snakes out there that will only take live, but don't give up too quickly when trying to make the switch. With patience and work most snakes can be switched. Good luck, and if you have any problems ask for help. There are many different techniques you can use and plenty of people here willing to help you through it.

The too many stories almost all have the same background behind the story. Prey was left in with the snake overnight or for days with no food provided for the prey.

I have a very nice modest collection with prized animals in it. If I had the slightest worry that they were at ANY risk, I wouldn't feed them live. BUT, I feed all of mine live, always have and have calculated that I have fed off over 13-15K live prey in the time I've been keeping ball pythons (actually, it's probably higher now).

In all that time, I've never had "horrific damage" happen to any of my snakes. In fact, I've never had even mild damage happen to any of my snakes.

But for the sake of this discussion, let's pretend I've had 1 incident that resulted in an injury that required veterinary care.

That would work out to a .00007692% chance of incurring an injury, based on 13K feedings.

I feed live, I don't hover over the snakes to interfere and stick pencils in rat's mouths, etc that I often read people do - they're quite capable of adjusting their hold to squeeze tighter to make the rodent gasp for air.

Bottom line - it's a personal choice. There's no need to sensationalize live feeding as something so dangerous that it shouldn't even be considered as a viable choice based on anecdotal stories we've all heard on the web.

[pigfat]

Mine was used to live when I got him, even though he is young, I dont think he likes f/t. I had one warmed up and he struck/constricted it but then let go and moved away. I tried several times and he eventually didn't bother striking. As soon as I put I live in there, he took it right away with no problems. I agree with Deborah, you need to watch when you put in a live rat as they CAN do damage to your snake if left along for a while. Snakes know where to strike and how to constrict as to avoid themselves of danger. Sometimes I think we baby snakes too much, do you think they have frozen/thawed in the wild? NOPE! I talked to this about a breeder who I bought mine from who breeds several types of boas, pythons and colubrids. He has fed all of his snakes live for 15 years and never had a problem. Let nature do it's thing, but be ready to intersect JUST in case