The Live vs F/T debate

[the I-Many]

Why?

These snakes are the product of 70 to 90 million years of evolution with two goals. The first is to breed. The second is to kill small animals and eat them so it can live long enough and get big enough to breed.

It's very good at both of them, and it doesn't really need help with either of them. In my 2 cent opinion, people do far too much trying to help these animals when they don't need it, from smashing their rodents against walls to feeding on paper plates to picking crap out of their teeth.

When it comes to feeding live, just let your snake do what he is incredibly well designed to do. Put a properly sized rodent in the enclosure and let your snake do the rest.

I think getting strangled must suck. Thats why lol.

[the I-Many]

WoW................
Wrong in so many ways. Have you seen a scared rat that comes around after being stunned?
If you have issued then man up and do a cervical dislocate, no need to be cruel about it.

I make sure they're dead. My bp just graduated to hoppers so it's relatively easy. Physically that is. Emotionally ehhh.... hahaha

[Lizardlicks]

I make sure they're dead. My bp just graduated to hoppers so it's relatively easy. Physically that is. Emotionally ehhh.... hahaha

You are GROSSLY mis-informed about how to prekill a live feeder. Cervical dislocation is not strangling nor is co2 gas. With the first, the rat dies as near instantly as you can get from having its spine severed at the brain stem. The second, the rats get sleepy and drift off slowly. Both of these are the most humane option for prekilling prey items. They are handled gently and respectfully leading up to the event and experience little to no pain or fear at all. Bashing the rat into the wall is NOT humane. You can not guarantee that your prey item will be killed the on first smack 100% of the time this way, even if you are big and strong, and the rat is tiny and fragile. That means a great deal of pain and fear for that prey. additionally, a rat knocked unconcious or sufficiently stunned can fool you into thinking it's dead when it isn't, and then it will wake up into PAIN/FEAR/DEFEND SELF mode. You'll find the older mice and rats will start to be more resilient, and while hoppers might not do much damage, you do not want to see what happens when a panicked feeder wakes up out of a daze and sees a snake.

For the sake of both the prey and your snake, please research and learn how to prekill correctly, or just switch to either straight up live or f/t.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I make sure they're dead. My bp just graduated to hoppers so it's relatively easy. Physically that is. Emotionally ehhh.... hahaha

Dead and dead instantly are two different things. SMH

[andyroof1979]

I really don't get this LIVE feeding malarkey . I've kept loads of snakes from Garters to Burms and I've never had to resort to feeding LIVE.
Even the fussiest Royal Python will eat warmed up d/f when they're ready . I currently have a matching , non related pair of Albino Royals who will only eat if it's warmed up and dangled in front of their face .. It sometimes takes three or four attempts but so what - just put the time and effort in and don't take the easy route of feeding LIVE . It's cruel to the rodents and risky for your snakes !!

I read a post the other day where this woman said she hated feeding live due to the harrowing sound of the rat pup crying in pain for 25 minutes whilst it was slowly eaten alive !!!
She said it sounded like a crying baby !!!

That's funny, my female bumblebee WILL NOT under any circumstances eat a f/t or a f/k rat. Live only

[Ransack]

I didn't read this entire thread. There is two reasons people only feed live. Cost and convenience. Case closed

Anybody on a high horse saying it's more natural or whatever is fooling you. Anybody that likes the kill needs to seek help.

It's near impossible to feed frozen to a 140 snake collection and frozen gets expensive real quick.

LOL!!! I just read some of this thread, I can't wait for the threads from some of these people when their snakes eye is hanging out of the socket or half it's face is ripped open.

[SCWood]

IMO people should do what they need to do to get the snake to eat once it's a health hazard. 2 of mine eat f/t and I ONLY do that because in my area it's convenient and cheaper than live. 4 frozen here is $6 but 4 live is $15! That said, I have one snake that barely eats and when he does he takes only live mice even though he needs rats because he was attacked by a rat (he's a rescue ). It's nothing to do with morals and everything to do with preserving my babies. Do I like it? No. But I do what I need to do to keep my kids healthy

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

[the I-Many]

Dead and dead instantly are two different things. SMH

Okay dude I'm still going to do what works for me and my animal companion despite your disapproval. There are worst things in the world.

[the I-Many]

You are GROSSLY mis-informed about how to prekill a live feeder. Cervical dislocation is not strangling nor is co2 gas. With the first, the rat dies as near instantly as you can get from having its spine severed at the brain stem. The second, the rats get sleepy and drift off slowly. Both of these are the most humane option for prekilling prey items. They are handled gently and respectfully leading up to the event and experience little to no pain or fear at all. Bashing the rat into the wall is NOT humane. You can not guarantee that your prey item will be killed the on first smack 100% of the time this way, even if you are big and strong, and the rat is tiny and fragile. That means a great deal of pain and fear for that prey. additionally, a rat knocked unconcious or sufficiently stunned can fool you into thinking it's dead when it isn't, and then it will wake up into PAIN/FEAR/DEFEND SELF mode. You'll find the older mice and rats will start to be more resilient, and while hoppers might not do much damage, you do not want to see what happens when a panicked feeder wakes up out of a daze and sees a snake.

For the sake of both the prey and your snake, please research and learn how to prekill correctly, or just switch to either straight up live or f/t.

I appreciate your well versed opinion and (supposed) righteous indignation.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Okay dude I'm still going to do what works for me and my animal companion despite your disapproval. There are worst things in the world.

Yeah there are, animal cruelty comes to the top of my head. Still SMH