Feeding Live VS Frozen

[dakski]

I know that this has probably been covered, and that it is a controversial subject. I've been feeding my 3 month old BP live since I've had her, and she hasn't been injured because the rats are pups still. But I always watch over her when feeding anyways. Is it still dangerous to feed live if I spectate and assist if needed? I feel like live is more natural, and I prefer to. I just want to know if she's still in danger with me watching over her.

Yes, controversial subject for sure.

I will give my opinion and state some facts. Keep in mind, I am not telling you what to do or what you should do, just what I do and why.

I only feed F/T. I believe most snakes, especially young snakes, and even picky BP's can be switched to F/T. There are rare occasions where it won't happen, but I think many cases where it doesn't happen it has more to do with lack of patience and persistence, lack of desire, or it's a young snake and the owner/breeder just wants to make sure it eats.

Okay a fact: A live rat can injure, possibly badly, a BP, even if you are watching it happen. I think it's much easier to intervene when the snake is not interested in feeding and you just have to remove the rat. Not so easy when a snake gets a bad strike and/or the rat fights back, hurting the snake. What could you do while that is happening?

My opinion: Live feeding is more natural, but nature isn't always safe, convenient, or humane.

I think it's cruel to the prey item, I think it's dangerous to the snake, and it's downright inconvenient, especially if you have multiple snakes. Who wants to get a bunch of live rats, bring them home, etc. I just take food out of the freezer, defrost, and done. Plus, if my BP, for instance, who fasts in the winter, doesn't want to eat, what do I do with a live rat? I don't like babysitting rats, thank you.

Many people think snakes enjoy hunting and killing. They do it to eat, period. I do not believe they have the capacity to enjoy the kill. They are just hungry and doing what is necessary. We anthropomorphize animal behaviors often. We are very different than snakes, in many ways. Humans can enjoy killing something, even take pride in it, but snakes cannot.

All my snakes, a BP, a corn, and BCI, are healthy weights, eat F/T happily, and have their entire lives, or the majority. There are no ill effects to the snake feeding F/T and risks to feeding live.

I know some people are convinced that it's difficult to switch a snake over, and it can be. However, I have had experience switching an adopted adult BP (I believe wild caught as well), who only ate live, to switch to F/T. I know, that's one example, and it took a lot of persistence and time. However, it worked. Again, may not work in all cases, but I was determined. This was also many moons ago, so please don't test me on time it took, etc.

In my experience, most snakes switch no problem, provided the prey is appropriate size, frozen and then defrosted properly, and offered in a way the snake likes, which often means simulating that is alive.

Bottom line/Conclusion: I do not think there are many, if any, advantages to the snake by feeding live.

Again, my opinion, and I do not judge other people who hunt, fish, feed live prey to their snakes, etc. These are just things I don't do because I have trouble seeing any animal be hurt or killed.