Live or Frozen?

[RobNJ]

I mean, it was obviously alive when the rat started chewing, so what snake would not defensively strike? Not saying live is the best or only way to go, just saying, I think that that photo has more at play than it states.

It's not really in a bp's nature to defensively lash out. Years ago, a friend of mine left a mouse in with a perfectly healthy juvenile bp for 2 days, and that mouse absolutely did a number on the snake's back, but nothing compared to that picture.

I'd guess that picture was taken after the snake and rat/mouse were left together for 4+ days.

[boaz_21]

Yeah I couldn't leave one in there with her alone.. I held the tail of the frozen on until she really decided she wanted it, which was something very amazing to watch and happens so fast.. but i don't have any tongs.. I held it with my fingers by the tip of the tail.. someone told me they don't always have the best aim but she was dead on. If she were to just happen to miss and get me on accident it would be my fault anyway but i don't honestly see that happening.. Frozen just seems to be alot safer after seeing what everyone is saying.. especially since she already takes to the frozen and does it without any hesitation.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Yeah I couldn't leave one in there with her alone.. I held the tail of the frozen on until she really decided she wanted it, which was something very amazing to watch and happens so fast.. but i don't have any tongs.. I held it with my fingers by the tip of the tail.. someone told me they don't always have the best aim but she was dead on. If she were to just happen to miss and get me on accident it would be my fault anyway but i don't honestly see that happening.. Frozen just seems to be alot safer after seeing what everyone is saying.. especially since she already takes to the frozen and does it without any hesitation.

The problem comes when they see the heat from your finger and smell the rodent. Then you might be in trouble. I just use a pair of needle-nose pliers, and I've yet to been bit.

[KatStoverReptiles]

Yeah I couldn't leave one in there with her alone.. I held the tail of the frozen on until she really decided she wanted it, which was something very amazing to watch and happens so fast.. but i don't have any tongs.. I held it with my fingers by the tip of the tail.. someone told me they don't always have the best aim but she was dead on. If she were to just happen to miss and get me on accident it would be my fault anyway but i don't honestly see that happening.. Frozen just seems to be alot safer after seeing what everyone is saying.. especially since she already takes to the frozen and does it without any hesitation.

I would suggest getting a set of tongs. They're not a NECESSITY...but I have a few (mostly my spider female) who get a little over zealous on feeding day and will strike at anything semi-warm (fingers included). I've also had the skin on the tail slough off after holding it for a bit, and that was a bit gross to me...

[boaz_21]

I can see what you mean now about the heat from my fingers, i wasn't really accounting for that.. I have some needle nose near me actually and I never really thought about using them. And I can definately see why that would gross you out.. That sounds digusting.

[benwallage9]

Personally I wil not buy from a breeder whom feeds live just because it is so very inconvient for me to deal with live. I want animals that take FT and not have to struggle to convert FT to live is easier than live to FT.

Really! When I go to the expos it seems like all the breeders feed live. I've switched all of my snakes over to f/t without much trouble (knock on wood I just got a new snake that is use to live.)

[benwallage9]

Back when I fed mine live I would have a pencil to hold the mouse/rats head or feet away from my snake. I got sick of doing this and what I find to be more stress for me than was necessary so I made a CO2 gas chamber. later I moved to F/T because of the better prices.

Did you gas them then feed straight to snakes or freeze in between? Also how much do you think it cost you per rat when you raised them yourself? Or I guess how much more was it to breed your own? Also how big of a collection were you feeding?

[The Serpent Merchant]

Did you gas them then feed straight to snakes or freeze in between? Also how much do you think it cost you per rat when you raised them yourself? Or I guess how much more was it to breed your own? Also how big of a collection were you feeding?

I would gas them then feed. There are people on here far more knowledgeable than me on here. My attempts at rat breeding utterly failed. I would sugest that you check out the rat breeding section of this site.

I had 5 snakes that I was feeding, 4 ball pythons and 1 carpet python.

I had 4 male rats and 12 female rats (1 male to 3 females per tank) I had 4 tanks and for whatever reason things never really got rolling. I produced a few litters but the smell was terrible and I live in a 1 bedroom apartment (college student ) once the initial cost of the rodents/tanks/water bottles/food dishes was paid for all I needed to get on a semi-regular basis was lab blocks and bedding. I honestly don't remember how much I spent but cost wasn't the main reason why I stopped.

[gazCOBRA-CHOKEhop]

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?

If she is taking F/T then continue with that method. I personally prefer Freshly Killed...not for the faint of heart though!...a minute before i am about to feed my ball pythons Zig & Zag ill tempt them out of there hides by holding the rat by its tail and kind of walking it around the enclosure to get the snakes interested then i will take the rat back out and kill it (cervical dislocation method, this and Co2 gassing are the most humane) then i will throw it back into there enclosures and they will strike and coil the rats straight away without any hesitation!
Hope this helped.

Gaz

[jeff_blake]

ive been feeding my bp frozen since she was a hatchling, seems to eat them every week, havent had a feeding issue in the 6 months ive had her thank god. no point in changing now imo.