My BP is not doing so great with live food...

[SnakeBabe]

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A responsible owner that supervises feeding and feed an appropriate size prey CAN do feed live safely. Animals that are severly injured are the result of irresponsible owners....

I never heard this argument. Are you saying that you have perfected a way to be 100% safe doing live feeding? Zero risk?
Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I never heard this argument.

You never heard that before? Well I guess you have not been here much than

When done responsibly the risk is minimum close to 0, I never had any injury (minor or serious) and I know a few people here that will tell you the same thing

Like I said horror stories, severe injuries (that you mentioned previously) are the result of irresponsible owners, those people are likely to have problem even if they feed F/T

[SnakeBabe]

You said safe,

...
the risk is minimum close to 0, ...:

well, that’s not 100 % safe, its almost safe and you chose to take that risk. I like the safer method of F/T.

If you have an issue with the over use of the photo on my site here is a wonderful success story.

This guy belonged to a person who insisted this boa ONLY eats live. During a typical feeding this 5 foot boa grabbed the rat on the side; rat turned and bit a huge hunk of its nose. They brought it to the vet, never paid the bill. I did and here we are about 4 years later with an almost healed nose on a boa that has eaten only F/T

Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

[MeMe]

I don’t think so but I’m not going to take the risk with my pets.
I am sure you all have seen the photos. I have snakes here that were victims of live feedings. Missing nostrils, scars up and down their bodies but no eyes missing. I was just making a point. With the live method it is possible. Not mine.
Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

The that is YOUR choice but it is not bad or harmful to feed live if done responsibly.

Most of these 'victims of live feedings' were because

1. the prey was too big.

or

2. The snake was not fed by a responsible owner.

You have to monitor the feedings...every one of them.

[MikeC1212]

and Illegal

Illegal? To stun/whack/whatever to a rodent? I'm calling the cops and lawyers because I'm going to sue every store that sells mouse traps. Those MONSTERS!!!

Give me a break.

[SnakeBabe]

In several places it is illegal. It has been a while since I was asked this so let me contact my Rat owing friends and ask if they know which states.
Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

[chatcher]

i know what the cons to live feeding are but what are the pro's?

are there any?

other than not totally defrosting what are the cons to feeding frozen?

[bearhart]

You said safe,
well, that’s not 100 % safe, its almost safe and you chose to take that risk. I like the safer method of F/T.

If you have an issue with the over use of the photo on my site here is a wonderful success story.

This guy belonged to a person who insisted this boa ONLY eats live. During a typical feeding this 5 foot boa grabbed the rat on the side; rat turned and bit a huge hunk of its nose. They brought it to the vet, never paid the bill. I did and here we are about 4 years later with an almost healed nose on a boa that has eaten only F/T

Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

Its a shame about your boa but I have a 6 foot JCP and his typical meal simply does not have what it takes mouth-wise to remove a significant amount of flesh. In fact, when I first got him, I over-estimated his prey size and he did get some big bites. But those were large rats and they never even managed to draw blood. They mangled the scales pretty good but were not able to penetrate. Now, two sheds later, the marks are completely gone. Since then, I've realized that he doesn't need such big meals and he gets either a small or medium rat. Those things simply don't have the biting power necessary to do more than a good scratch.

to the OP:

It is important to distinguish between a mark and a real injury. Minor bites can scratch the scales and pinch the skin underneath.

Also, a bit of neck stretching is fine. Its looks freaky and you can start to see the pink of the skin underneath the scales but its not damaging unless the prey size is extreme.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

i know what the cons to live feeding are but what are the pro's? are there any? other than not totally defrosting what are the cons to feeding frozen?

They are pros and cons with both, my advice to anyone would be to experiment see what work and chose according to what work and is convenient for them.

Pros and cons will depends on the person I guess

For me F/T and I use to only feed F/T exclusively, has become time consuming when feeding multiple snakes and will only get worse as my collection keep growing.

Some preys will explode if thawed too fast.

Some snake will not take F/T

I feed live and raise my own feeders but I still have a few snake that I chose to keep on F/T (which has nothing to do with possible risks)

[Jenn]

I had problems getting my BP to take frozen thawed at first, but had great luck with live. I was going to switch back to FT after establishing a good feeding pattern. But have since changed my mind.

Watching my BP Lucy take live mice and rats I realize that this is simply the way of the world. She is just a few months old, yet strikes and kills a live mouse with amazing skill. Snakes are killing machines. It's really their ONLY skill. I can understand all the reasons why people want to feed their snakes like they feed their children. But for Lucy it's live all the way!!!

In fact, as soon as my corn snake Mazie gets a little bigger I am going to switch her to live too.