Live Feeding: Drop or Dangle?

[Physician&Snakes]

Interesting.....over 5K live feedings, I've never had to intervene, or guide the prey to the snake, direct hit or not. No injuries in all those live feedings either.

I have never had any poor hits either, but I have never chanced it either. Notice, my posts states what "I" do when I feed live...I am sure you are just as responsible of a keeper. If my post did come off to you as some some perturbing remark toward your methodology then you have my apology though.

[Phantomtip]

I put the container with rat close to her hide so she smells then open it drop rat then close her enclosure. Head or rump shenails it. I do watch just incase the rat decides to try and use last resorts and bites but so far no prproblem and she's almost 3 1/2 yrs old now. She has never been biitten and only eats tail first if its smaller than usual.

[OctagonGecko729]

So long as you feed appropriately sized meals you shouldnt have any injuries. I still watch everytime i live feed to make sure the rodent cant get to an eyeball and to make sure the snake is actually interested in eating. Slowly let the rat down into the enclosure on the far side away from the snake.

[trevo]

I had a corn snake that got bit and it turned to infection, so I see the possibility of this happening, but my BP has never had an issue getting live prey wrapped up and taken out. I only feed live as he wont touch f/t. Just give them lots of space. I buy a plastic tub that offers more than enough space for the job to be done.

[Tannerrrtx]

Haha. I feel so blessed when I read through these threads all of mine will take f/t or pk. Even my picky 1500 g girl that's been fed live her whole life (:

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[satomi325]

Do not dangle. That puts the feeders into a panic. Panic and scared animals are dangerous and your chances of a bite from them increases.
You want your feeders calm. Just gently place the rat in the enclosure and keep watch. A calm feeder will either curiously explore or sit and groom itself.

If your snake strikes and gets a bad hold where the rat's teeth are in position to bite, just shove a pen/chopstick/tongs into its mouth till its dead.

Hundreds of live feedings here and no wounds on my snakes. Just make sure youre you're feeding an appropriately sized prey. So prey not overly large.

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[Crazymonkee]

Haha. I feel so blessed when I read through these threads all of mine will take f/t or pk. Even my picky 1500 g girl that's been fed live her whole life (:

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Send me some of your snake charming abilities!!

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[Tannerrrtx]

Send me some of your snake charming abilities!!

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If I could I would! Ever since I was little me and my reptilian friends have seemed to get along well lol

I don't even zombie dance with them anymore. All I have to do is lay em in. Usually somewhere around the heat tape. And everyone hits like crazy within the hour. I've never had to sit around. My new black pastel almost got me when I dropped his in yesterday lol

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[Eazyyyb]

Thanks for the info guys I'll get another rat this weekend and just drop and observe

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Depends to be honest for my ghost,I drop it in. He is a great striker. Always strikes at the face of prey and then constrict the neck then chest,it's routine wih him. He is on point. Once in a blue if he is extra feisty for food he will strike at then neck,like he did this past Sunday. But with my ghost!he don't mess around!as soon as he detects prey,he's out and striking within seconds most all the time.

my Black pastel,sometimes I'll dangle it I'm front of him,as he is not a good striker and he's picky and shy and a pain to feed..seems like when I dangle he strikes faster then when I place the prey in the tank.

each snake is different. I also monitor live feedings from the moment the feeder is dropped in until there 100% dead