Feeding Question

[Slim]

How is feeding a snake a live rat, i mean i havent really had to handle a rat, for a mice i just grab it by the tail and dangle it infront of my snake same for a rat?

For the one snake I do have that eats live, I do not dangle the rat (I wouldn't recommend it for mice, either) because I don't want my snake striking at a freaked out rat. I just drop the rat in the tub, and 9 times out of 10, the rat is relaxed and grooming its self or exploring the tub when my snake strikes. A much better situation in my opinion.

Oh, and that 10th time I have yet to account for? That happens when I drop the rat in the tub and it imediatley crawls into the hide currently occupied by my snake? That never goes well for the rat...

[BallJohnny]

Awesome info, im going to go live for now and i'll make sure to take all the safty things to do. I do want to ask the shop i got my snake from told me feed him 1 every 2 weeks, hes 2 1/2 years old, (sorry no scale yet so havent weighted). About 2 1/2 feet long. Think i should do 1 mouse a week?

[Slim]

I personally offer/feed all my snakes once per week. At 2.5 years old, your snake is a young adult, and will probably eat a small rat each week.

[MrLang]

I accept my novice rank but until I hit a picky eater myself I'm going to stand behind the notion that any BP can be switched to F/T with due vigilance. The OG I picked up the other day had never eaten F/T. The day after I picked her up I attempted feeding F/T and she struck and coiled off of the tongs and then let it go and ran to her hide. I warmed it back up and stuck it in there and she went over and just opened her mouth and pushed it down - obviously something she had never done before with live meals. This whole process was maybe 5 minutes.

I'll eat my words at some point. For now, I'm stubbornly refusing to believe that there is a snake that would emaciate itself before eating a dead rodent.

Slim, you used the word thrive, which is largely open to individual interpretation. I can't refute that on those grounds.

[AK907]

I'll eat my words at some point. For now, I'm stubbornly refusing to believe that there is a snake that would emaciate itself before eating a dead rodent.

Slim, you used the word thrive, which is largely open to individual interpretation. I can't refute that on those grounds.

Oh yes, there are a LOT of snakes who will literally starve themselves to death rather than eat a dead rodent. Yes, I said it. Starve. Themselves. To. Death. You've just been lucky so far. Not all snakes are bottomless pits and will eat anything. I've even had some snakes that were so picky they would only eat rodents that were certain species, certain colors, certain genders, etc. If we didn't meet those needs they would starve themselves. We've played the "waiting game" before under the believe that if they are hungry enough they will eat it. It just isn't so.

I would interpret "thriving" as all their needs being met to achieve the best possible quality of life. This would include proper (not just adequate) feeding, housing, etc.

[satomi325]

I agree with AK907.

I too believe a snake will starve themselves if picky enough.
I know plenty of other species of animals that will starve themselves so why not snakes?
For example, I'm heavily involved with ferret rescue. Many ferret's imprint on certain foods between birth and 6 months of age. I have seen dozens of ferrets fail to thrive and get so sick from starvation because they refused to eat a new brand of food. And the moment they're given their prefered kibble, those ferrets start eating again. This is the reason why so many ferret owners have to provide a mixed kibble diet to ensure ferrets don't imprint on one kind of food.

[Slim]

Slim, you used the word thrive, which is largely open to individual interpretation.

Yes, Sir, I agree that the word is not entirely specific.

The reason I used thirve is due to a certain snake and keeper I know who refuses to feed live for any reason. One of her snakes pretty much lives on a subsistance diet and only takes the F/T about 1 in 10 times, despite my pleading with her to either feed this one live or sell me the snake. To me that is living, not thriving.

Especially since I know for a fact that the animal I'm refering to will eat live at the drop of a hat.

[alittleFREE]

I personally prefer to feed f/t simply because to me, it's the more convenient option, and somehow weighs less on my rodent-loving soul.

That said, I've fed plenty of snakes live, and in the future if the need ever presented itself, would definitely again.

Whatever works, honestly, as long as you're being safe about the feedings.

[rlditmars]

I can't say conclusively that this will work 100% of the time, but I have had 100% success with first feeding a smaller live prey, and following it up immedietely behind with F/T. The snake will simply continue eating the second animal providing you get it in there before they close their mouth around the end of the first.

Just make sure that the total weight of both animals is an acceptable ratio for the snakes overall proportions. You don't want to over feed.

After the first time they should accept F/T on the next feeding. At least I have not experienced a refusal of the F/T. But I guess if I had, I would just try it again. (Rinse and repeat) This can also be applied to the switch from mice to rats.



As many people here have said though, every snake is an individual.

[MrLang]

I have heard of the ferret thing. The difference here I would say is that the food item is the same -> if they imprint on a rat they're still getting a rat.

AK - I hear people say that in these threads. I haven't seen a single person confirm your claim (beyond very small hatchling snakes). The closest I've heard is what Slim just described which, while inhumane from a domestic pet standpoint, is sustaining the snake's life. My pewter was 150g and a year old when I bought it and it has no permanent effects and is now gaining weight rapidly.

They have the know-how to sustain life. They have genetics telling them to eat food BY OPPORTUNISTIC MEANS that is millions and millions of years old. They eat dead things in the wild if they need to. In captivity, we simply measure NEED differently. I don't disagree with that notion.

If I ever get a multiple refusal snake I will most definitely feed it live. Here's the thing, though. My 4 snakes are all on F/T now and haven't skipped a meal. If at some point they choose to do that, I'm going to wait until they take F/T again to feed them. Why? They know it's food and they know what to do. They're not THAT stupid.