Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 920

0 members and 920 guests
No Members online
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,945
Threads: 249,141
Posts: 2,572,337
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, SONOMANOODLES
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Threaded View

  1. #10
    BPnet Lifer Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,832
    Thanks
    29,455
    Thanked 20,611 Times in 12,319 Posts

    Re: Cloacal Opening - Is this normal?

    Quote Originally Posted by MaggieMay91 View Post
    Hmm, now I'm a concerned snake mom. I've always fed my snakes in a separate space outside of their terrarium and always live mice (sinaloan milk snake for 15 years and another ball python I've had for about 8 years). I've heard it can be difficult to switch to frozen if you have started them on live. Also, don't live contain more nutrients for your snake? I've never fed the ball python anything bigger then a rat pup and I've never had any injuries. I feel like I've been doing it wrong all these years! Am I a bad snake mom?!
    No...not bad, just misinformed. Social media spreads good & bad info, it can be hard to tell the difference but it's never to late to learn better ways. That's why we're here.

    F/t rodents lose a little of their scent after being frozen & thawed, but most snakes adjust quite well, & you can just pinch-damage the nose w/ your tongs to release more scent.

    Actually, depending on your snakes, many become better pets when fed f/t...a bit more relaxed & less ready to bite either in self defense (when you reach in) or out of confusion. Most snakes still grab & go thru the motions of constricting, but some will just eat "politely" from tongs...just depends on their personality as to how much they learn to let down their guard.

    Here's the thing though: a young BP can eat rat pups, but as snakes (including BPs) grow bigger, their nutritional needs are better met by larger (ADULT) rodents, because the adult rodents are less fatty, more protein & minerals from bigger bones & muscles. Live rodents do NOT have more nutrients, and besides that, they can give your snakes intestinal parasites-WORMS! which do not survive in frozen-thawed rodents. So you probably should get stool samples to your vet so you can see if any of your snakes need de-worming.

    You are correct that by feeding young rodents (rat pups) there was virtually no danger to your snake, but IF you were feeding the appropriate size (age) rodents, they sure would be.
    Last edited by Bogertophis; 04-10-2020 at 07:57 PM.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

    The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” ~ Gandhi

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Bogertophis For This Useful Post:

    GoingPostal (04-11-2020),MaggieMay91 (04-16-2020)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1