PK feeding question

[covah-pariah]

I've had my BPs for over three years and have always fed live with little problems (a couple small bites and scratches and one had a bad bite that healed) but am thinking about trying to convert them to pk for safety sake but not sure how to do that. I stun the rats with a knock on the head but my BPs don't eat until the rat starts moving again. What's the best way to pk then offer?

And thanks to all you very experienced and knowledgable owners, I've already learned quite a bit in the last week I've been here that I didn't really know.

-Rich

[Rob]

PK is always a touchy subject, but what the hey I'll jump in. You say you animals won't strike until its moving around right? Well when you PK a rat via Blow to the head it will kick around a convulse maybe get the rodent into the enclosure while it's doing so to trigger a feeding response.

[covah-pariah]

PK is always a touchy subject, but what the hey I'll jump in. You say you animals won't strike until its moving around right? Well when you PK a rat via Blow to the head it will kick around a convulse maybe get the rodent into the enclosure while it's doing so to trigger a feeding response.

That's what I do now, they usually just go up to it to check it out then move away, but then go after it when it starts moving around.

Pease pardon my ignorance for a moment here, so is a blow to the head to incapacitate the rat considered pk?

[Rob]

Pease pardon my ignorance for a moment here, so is a blow to the head to incapacitate the rat considered pk?

Yeah, I'm not talking about a little stun flick. Enough to kill it, it's fast and painless. But nerves will still make it jump around. If your having such a problem with PK, why not just stick to live? Unless your working towards f/t.

[gardenfiend138]

Just hitting the prey item isn't enough to ensure it's dead--I use my forceps for C/D. Grab the rat by the tail, and swiftly pin the rat just behind the neck (with the forceps) and pull back and slightly up simultaneously. This is a quick and easy way to do it, and as soon as the spinal cord is severed pain isn't able to be registered by the rat. Just be sure to grab firmly at the BASE of the tail...had a tail pop off once and it is not a fun thing! It's best if you have someone who can show you because it is intimidating at first.

Then just zombie rat dance with the tongs. I only have 3 snakes, but I never have problems having them eat them, unless they're just on strike. Hope this helps!

[Rob]

Just hitting the prey item isn't enough to ensure it's dead

O but it is.

[DooLittle]

Most of mine get p/k except for one, possibly two now, turds that will only eat live. Imo, much more convenient to do live and or p/k. No time spent messing around with thawing and heating.

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[covah-pariah]

Imo, much more convenient to do live and or p/k. No time spent messing around with thawing and heating.

I agree, that's why I don't try and mess with those.

Crazy thing happened last night when feeding my Pariah, his teeth cut a vein in the rats neck when he finally stuck and killed it. But I wasn't sure if the rat was completely dead cause it kept twitching and moving its feet even as he was swallowing it. I was a little worried the rat wasn't dead and could damage Pariah internally.

-Rich

[Mike41793]

O but it is.

lmfao

if it isnt enough, then youre doing it wrong...

I agree, that's why I don't try and mess with those.

Crazy thing happened last night when feeding my Pariah, his teeth cut a vein in the rats neck when he finally stuck and killed it. But I wasn't sure if the rat was completely dead cause it kept twitching and moving its feet even as he was swallowing it. I was a little worried the rat wasn't dead and could damage Pariah internally.

-Rich

Most likely no, it was probably the rats nervous system just sending out randmon pulses. Plus once mr. rat meets mr. saliva and mr. stomach acid he usually breaks down pretty quickly. Oh and the snakes muscles compact him into a much smaller package.

[covah-pariah]

Most likely no, it was probably the rats nervous system just sending out randmon pulses. Plus once mr. rat meets mr. saliva and mr. stomach acid he usually breaks down pretty quickly.

ha ha, yeah that's what I figured. He never stopped eating with the rat doing the kickin chicken in his mouth.