A feeding question for UK/European keepers!

[MisterKyte]

I'd really like to stress that I'm not here to argue what's better (F/T vs. Live), I just want to collect information.

I have heard time and time again in arguments from people against live feeding that in Europe (particularly the UK) no one over there feeds live, some have even said it's against the law, and that there is a 100% success rate of snakes taking F/Ts. To be honest, I am highly incredulous of these accounts but I'd really like to hear from anyone who lives in the region on what your particular experience has been in regards to feeding your snakes.

I just kind of find it mind boggling since I've never been successful with feeding all my BPs F/Ts and I have yet to meet anyone who has a large collection that will all readily take F/Ts as well.

[Dave Green]

I'm not in Europe but my entire collection eats frozen thawed, it can be done.

[Pythonfriend]

i know that in Germany rhodents are available live as well as frozen thawed, and people feed their snakes live as well as frozen thawed. And its legal.

There are laws against inhumane killing of vertebrates, which includes of course mice as well as snakes and almost all other pets. I guess feeding rhodents to snakes just doesnt fall under what would be considered inhumane. when it comes to other animals that dont kill by quickly disrupting the blood stream, like snakes do, but that basically rip their prey into pieces, its a different story. i dont think live feeding of sharks or lions or hyenas or birds of prey or crocodiles is done in Germany.

Many snake keepers in Germany, and that includes big breeders, actually prefer to feed live.

[MisterKyte]

Dave, out of curiousity, do you feed them that way out of convenience or ethics?

[Mike41793]

Dave, out of curiousity, do you feed them that way out of convenience or ethics?

There's no ethical debate between live and f/t. He feeds that way bc he doesn't feel like raising feeders (is what i think ive heard him say before).

[Dave Green]

Convenience. I've never liked the chore of breeding rodents or tracking them down and getting them from others. I start, or convert, all my babies to frozen thawed as soon as possible. It's not that difficult if you do it when they are hatchlings.

[MisterKyte]

There's no ethical debate between live and f/t. He feeds that way bc he doesn't feel like raising feeders (is what i think ive heard him say before).

And I'll just chalk that up as "convenience" then.

[MisterKyte]

Convenience. I've never liked the chore of breeding rodents or tracking them down and getting them from others. I start, or convert, all my babies to frozen thawed as soon as possible. It's not that difficult if you do it when they are hatchlings.

Yeah, it's very straight forward when starting from a young age or hatchling. Converting a five year old male who has been raised on live? Not so much. S: