Live or F/T?

[satomi325]

Deleted for double post

[Bigswol]

I prefer live. F/T is a waste of freezer space and time for me. If I fed f/t, it would take me hours to feed my snakes compared to the few minutes it takes me to feed live. Plus if a snake doesn't eat, I can just save the live feeder for next week. Refreezing and rethawing feeders is kind of nasty so saving the live rodent is definitely a plus.

Its also cheaper for me to breed my own food than buy f/t. Not to mention my rats get quality care and diet so I know what kind of food my snakes are eating.
And who knows how long rats are dead before they are frozen.




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^^^^This X2 - I hate thawing out frozen.

[sunshinenorcas]

Actually in a constriction, the rat releases endorphins which does dull its senses. So its not as bad as you think. Nature has ways to be as efficient as possible. And some f/t rats die horrible deaths from improper use of CO2(some awful people even put their live rats straight into the freezer without euthanizing them first. Pretty agonizing). If the gas was rapidly distributed, it does not put the animal to sleep first. The animal panics and suffocates immediately. Plus CO2 is not painless. Yes, it is the most humane out of all the euthanasia methods, but not painless. It stings the eyes, nose, and sinuses. Similar to having soda go up your nose, but the sensation not stopping.

And rule of thumb with live, feed the appropriate sized prey. Aka no large rats. Many people here won't feed larger than a small to an adult ball python. Medium at the very very most. Smaller rats are younger, thus more naive to danger and will not attack or fight. Its the adults that pack a punch, but is a prey that should not be fed to ball pythons.

If fed responsibly, live can be just as safe as f/t. And f/t isn't risk free either. There are plenty of snakes who have died from f/t feeders.

I think people should feed what works for them whether its live or f/t. But just be aware of what's going on and the risks with both methods and how to do both safely and responsibly.

Just some insight and my $.02.

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Oh no issue What are the dangers of f/t? Which sounds stupid, I just haven't heard any, other then heating the thawing the mouse improperly so it's way to warm and can burn the animal.

[bcr229]

Oh no issue What are the dangers of f/t? Which sounds stupid, I just haven't heard any, other then heating the thawing the mouse improperly so it's way to warm and can burn the animal.

Too hot and you burn your snake, or the rat's skin gets weak and it bursts when the snake constricts it. This can also happen if it gets freezer burned. Also, if you don't completely warm up the feeder so it's still cold/frozen inside, it can make your snake sick or kill it.

[satomi325]

Yup. If the core of the feeder is still cold or frozen, you can send your snake's system into shock. It can lead to death.

There are a few people on this forum(non active or irregular members) who have experienced this.

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