Live or Frozen?

[boaz_21]

I've heard alot of negatives about feeding them live mice... I fed her frozen today. Just wanted to know what all of you think about it?

[The Serpent Merchant]

It is always preferred to feed frozen or pre-killed. There are some snakes that just won't eat anything other than live so you have to indulge them. Feeding live can be very dangerous. a mouse can kill a snake if left unattended

Brutal evidence of this:

[Wapadi]

It is a matter of personal preference. I feed live rats and ASFs. And I watch every single snake kill and eat dinner or dinner is removed.

[kitedemon]

more is not really needed. Live feedings comes with a bit more risk than PK or FT. It is a manageable risk but a rish all the same. If your snake redily takes FT I'd feed FT.

[Kinra]

There is nothing wrong with feeding live as long as you supervise to some degree. I feed my collection f/t because it's cheaper, but I do have a few that will only take live. I will leave pinkies and pups in overnight if they don't take them right away, but anything larger they get a few minutes to make a move before I turn the lights down and wait. I want to make sure they get a good grab before I leave them alone. Snakes know what they are doing and sometimes we worry about them a little too much.

[KatStoverReptiles]

It's mostly personal preference. FT definitely eliminates the risk of the prey item injuring the snake. But some snakes won't take FT, so you've got to give them live. I think if your snake will take FT, then feed FT.

It's the never ending debate of the bp world.

[RobNJ]

I feed live, and have fed live for a few years now, and have had zero issues to speak of. Done responsibly, live feeding is fine. Of course, there is always the chance of a bite or a scratch, but the chance is not great, and if you are attentive, the chance of something happening is even less. Then again, feeding f/t, there is always a chance of not fully thawing or cooking the prey item, which can cause damage to your snake. I'm not advocating one method over the other, and bad things can happen either way, so whichever suits you, just be attentive.

[boaz_21]

Thank you again! And I would never leave her unattended. I did make the mistake of holding the frozen one today and by feeding her in her home which I know isn't a good thing to do... if I were to feed her a live one, I would hold it the same as I did the one I had to warm up for her.. She struck it quickly and wrapped around instantly even though shes been on the frozen from the pet store.. I'm new at this.. I've been around my bestfriends for 3 years now, but I still want to know if what I want to do is correct before I do it.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Feeding in the tank is also an ongoing debate. again personally I haven't found their to be any adverse effects of feeding ball pythons in their homes. I do it all the time and none of my ball pythons have ever even struck at me. Now my carpet python... that's a different story lol

[KatStoverReptiles]

Feeding in the tank is also an ongoing debate. again personally I haven't found their to be any adverse effects of feeding ball pythons in their homes. I do it all the time and none of my ball pythons have ever even struck at me. Now my carpet python... that's a different story lol

X2. All my snakes are fed in their tubs and I've seen no change in the amount of aggression (or lack there of) that they show me.