Risks of live feeding

[Reinz]

Perhaps I should elaborate that I didn't share this to prevent people from feeding live or to try to perpetuate some kind of agenda, just what can happen if it's not done responsibly (feeding f/t irresponsibly can be dangerous too, moral of this thread was simply to be careful and use your noggin when feeding). I both live feed and F/T feed and every keeper should do what they think is best for their animals. Sorry if it seemed that way! (:

@Deborah - How long do you leave a rat in with a snake before removing?
@Reinz - Was there a certain strategy that worked for you in converting a live feeder to F/T?

For me, I believe the most important thing was to be absolutely sure that they were ravenously hungry. I never even offered frozen until I had skipped a feeding, even if that was a month. I made sure that they tracked me in an S shape or were cage aggressive, or they struck the doors as I walked by. I next teased them for a few minutes by scenting with a hair dryer. This way, they would slam a shoe if I stuck it in the cage.

For the mouser snakes I mixed the rats with mice in the same bag in the freezer during their "forced" fast.
I fed the frozen mouse first, followed by a rat.

These changes all worked on the first time and every time thereafter.



Elvira was on live for 12 years. Frozen now for 2 years.