Quote Originally Posted by Rickys_Reptiles View Post
Force feeding is taking a f/t rat, a smaller rat than the snake would usually eat and forcing it down the snakes throat. You would usually take the rat and using the rats nose you would pry open the Ball Pythons moth, it's usually pretty easy to do. From that point you slowly put pressure on the rat till it's head is inside the snakes throat. They don't usually like this for obviousl reasons. Then, the owner slowly pushes the rat all the way down, or most of the way down into the snake. Sometimes it needs to be done - sometimes it the only way. If you do it gently, it's not nearly as stressful as people make it sound. Every breeder I know has done it when they need to. If you dont know how to do it properly, you can cause a lot of damage to your snake.
this is not correct at all!

Force feeding is by tube inserted into a snakes stomach by a vet.

Assist feeding is gently pushing a snakes mouth open with a pinky rat or small mouse and getting the teeth hooked into the prey. Then allowing the instinct to kick in and the snake start feeding by its self.

Forcing rats down a snakes throat is dangerous and irresponsible.