Quote Originally Posted by dakski View Post
I do not offer live food, for a variety of reasons, but a big one with BP's is what to do with the rats if the do not eat. Another is easy storage of food (I have 7 snakes though, so it's a bigger issue than with just 1).

Fine if you can find people to "adopt" rats that do not become food, but I wouldn't count on that.

Letting a feed rat go into the wild is not the best idea, to say the least, and IMO, is irresponsible to nature and probably that animal as well.

Snakes generally do not eat dead prey in the wild. However, many in captivity do learn to and could care less. They do not enjoy killing, nor do they like the "hunt." They do not have the brain capacity for enjoyment. They do like to eat because it equates to survival. The idea of a snake killing for enrichment is archaic and anthropomorphizing at it's best. Snakes kill to eat. Period.

If you are going to feed live, be responsible about it. That means feeding the snake in his/her enclosure (that's why you started the thread) because it's best for the snake, not leaving a live meal unattended at all, because that's what best for the snake, and finding humane ways to deal with live rats. They are living creatures too. Yes, they are snake food, and nature can be cruel, but don't compound the problem. See if your pet store will take them back, etc. or start feeding F/T which is generally safer for you snake anyway. It also solves your disposal issues. Not sure what you have against thawing a rat out, but that's your prerogative.
I get your point about feeding not being enrichment but rather survival; it would have been more appropriate for me to explain that it is fulfilling for me as a pet owner to watch her hunt and display her natural adaptations! I care very much about my snake and am as responsible as I can be but she is my first so I have made mistakes—feeding in another Tub was one of them but the guy I buy my rats from advised me to do so but I’m glad I have learned more from you guys. And believe me I felt terrible for releasing the rat the next day, I just panicked since it was her first time refusing food. I have also taken them back to the pet store. And the rat thawing is just gross to me, that’s all. Plus when live feeds go smoothly the process is quicker but I’m realizing that repercussion of them not going well make it not worth it. I’ll probably be moving to f/t soon—but since she is so picky right now should I wait to transition until she’s eating regularly again? I don’t mean to overwhelm you with questions, but I just find it hard to find answers to thing like this with a simple google search and don’t want to continue making mistakes