Quote Originally Posted by rabernet View Post
Can you point me to a study that says that live is healthier and more exciting for the snake than f/t? The fact that there are thousands of animals feed f/t that are thriving in collections around the world is proof enough that f/t is no less healthy than feeding live.

I am impressed with my snakes and the fact that they are perfectly designed to dispatch their prey - but if entertainment value is the reason to choose to feed live, the keeper might want to re-think their reason for having a snake.
Ok, first, I haven't read this entire thread yet, but I have to disagree with at least part of this post.

"I am impressed with my snakes and the fact that they are perfectly designed to dispatch their prey - but if entertainment value is the reason to choose to feed live, the keeper might want to re-think their reason for having a snake."

What is so wrong with enjoying watching a snake kill it's prey? Shouldn't feeding be a large point of consideration before ever purchasing a snake? I am currently feeding F/T, and I will likely continue to do so until I either need to breed my own mice, or have much more experience with my snake and feel comfortable taking the risk (which I feel is likely negligible if the snake has a strong feeding response). Part of the reason I would like to switch eventually is because I would enjoy watching my snake do what it does best. Why do so many people seem to think that make you sick/sadistic? I can't WAIT until my CWD can eat mice. He will be getting them live. I'd be willing to bet that a large portion of people that claim they do not "enjoy" watching their snake eating a live mouse are full of crap.

I realize that I will probably get some possibly angry responses to this post, but I am still going to post it, because I am just really tired of reading people basically saying that people should be ashamed because they enjoy watching their pet eat.

I enjoy watching my snake eat F/T too, even the first time i fed him and he didn't strike at it. When I fed him the other day and he struck, it was AWESOME! I loved it. I felt so good because he really wanted what I had for him. I feel good when all of my pets eat, I love to watch my frogs go after crickets, I love to watch my toads eat a worm/waxworm, and I absolutely LOVE hand feeding crickets to my CWD, and now, I love feeding my snake.

People are not bad because they derive enjoyment/entertainment from watching their animals eat. Is it wrong to watch a nature show on discovery channel where a lion is ripping a gazelle or whatever to shreds?

Oh, and one more thing, is it right to have to "fool" a snake into thinking what he is eating is alive?

Ok, now that I am done with my rant, I will answer the question. I was planning to feed my BP once a week, but he is very thin, so I am feeding every five days for now until he gets his weight back up.