Feeding suggestions...

[Faerie]

I am trying to mentally prepare myself. I know that the hype in my mind is worse than what will happen.

My best friend was helping me feed the snakes--the last part of the fear I had left to get over. Well, my best friend is now not doing so well. He is a disabled vet in serious pain and can't get out of his apartment to get up here to help.

The first time we went to feed Skade, I was going to help...but had a bad feeling so I convinced him to help. Well, she was so malnourished that instead of being the gentle feeder she used to be before she went into foster care, she struck with an excitement that set me back a few steps in my fears.

But I worked through that, because the only other "option" was to send her back to malnourishment, so...no option.

Last week, she bit me. My fault, I was concerned cause her vent was red, so I was trying to feel for blockage--she, understandably defended herself.

So I've been through the worst, but can anyone help psych me up for my first time feeding? It'll only be me in the house--I'm not comfortable with the idea of my daughter being here for that yet.

We feed f/t. Even though best friend doesn't, I will be using tongs. I know the basics. Just the fear anxiety.

Anyone got wisdom/encouragement for me? LOL

[Daybreaker]

Can I ask why you're scared of feeding? The reason(s)? I guess I don't understand what you mean from your post.

If it's the striking part you're nervous about I would try leaving the thawed (and warm) feeder in with the snake: some of my snakes will take their f/t feeders off the tub floor if I just leave it in with them. That might be an option if your snake will eat that way.

[RoseyReps]

You've been bit, so you know what it feels like. It's shocking, but pain wise is nothing. Is she in a tub or a tank? If she's used to f/t you might get away with just dropping it in. I did that the first few times with my little girl and she ate it, now I use tongs to wiggle, mainly so she doesn't get much mulch stuck to the rat. I'm sure when I have a larger collection I'll go back to drop feeding (for the piggies that will eat that way). You can do it! You've already gone through the scary part of the bite!
How old is your daughter? My girls watch me feed and don't seem to have any problem with it. The 6yo said "WHOA COOL!" the first time we fed her without blacking the front of the tank. My 3yo doesn't like to watch the strike, but will watch her eat. If I were feeding live I probably wouldn't let the younger one watch. You do what you feel comfortable doing. Don't freak yourself out about it too much. You'll be a pro feeder in no time

[Faerie]

I wound up with the snake as I was working through a phobia. I joined our Herp Society to work through my fears, and this snake was brought to us to use for a hands on event by my best friend's ex wife, who has been fostering his snakes since they divorced cause he can't have them.

She was malnourishing this snake and something about this snakes malnourishment broke my heart and my fear of a snake being in my home so I agreed to take her fostering over...

I can't really explain what's so scary about it to me, but than my phobia was never logical, so it's really hard to figure out why.

Friend thinks that perhaps I'm just so much of a nurturer that the hunter instinct is hard for me, even though I see and understand the necessity.

Does that help at all?

- - - Updated - - -

My daughter turns 4 on Friday. She's very excited, I've helped her find pictures to see what a snake eating looks like and it doesn't bother her. She is a little helper though of course, so until I can handle it myself, I'm kind of protective of HER being there Besides, if for some reason Skade misses and hits me, I don't want her to freak out cause in her mind that's a "bad snake". This all started cause some moron said something in front of her that made her think snakes eat naughty children. So I don't want to take a chance and instigate that fear again, so until we know Skade isn't feeding so "eagerly", Mom's a bit overprotective if that makes sense.

[RoseyReps]

That makes perfect sense to me. If I had concern with Henna I would do the same with my youngest. Especially with Skade coming back from malnourishment. I think you will do wonderfully, even if something unexpected happens. I won't say a darn thing about being overprotective..I often refer to myself as "hover-mom" and constantly ask my husband if I'm being too overprotective

[Faerie]

So I'm in the middle of feeding her. Zombie dance got a good strike and coil. She keeps checking if I'm watching so I covered the box for the moment to give her eating privacy...best friend said she needs that sometimes.

I won't lie, I'm shaking a bit. Doesn't help the stupid cat smelled the mice and keeps trying to "help"