The Live vs F/T debate

[Spiritserpents]

Ratbait did fine with live prey up until he went blind. His previous owner, sadly, was under the mistaken impression that *all* snakes will *only* take live prey and so continued to feed him. She was trying to do right, but was not informed of all options.

There are snakes that will literally starve themselves to death for lack of live prey. Live pinkies are my ultimate last resort for non-feeding hatchling corns snakes, as in "you hatched 6 weeks ago, you've never eaten, and you'll die in another couple weeks if I don't get you eating." Some still starve themselves (i euthanise before they starve to *death*) but many will take live pinkies. I try to convert as soon as possible because I am personally uncomfortable with feeding live, especially to hatchling corns that don't kill the mouse first. That whole "save the fuzzy animal" vet tech part.

I also have worked with someone whose ball python refused f/t *anything*. Mice, rats, quail. If it wasn't alive, it wouldn't eat. She once had it go 6 months refusing f/t before she finally offered stunned live prey, which it killed and ate immediately. Snakes will form preferences. I have a corn snake that will *only* eat quail. He didn't eat for 9 months before I got him figured out, and that by accident. I have another corn snake that will only eat white mice. Snakes are weird, and while many can be switched to f/t, maybe even most, there will always be those snakes that turn their nose up at f/t, and those snakes need to eat. At that point, the owner needs to educate themselves and figure out a safe way to do it and be prepared for medical bills in case of an injury from a missed strike.