first feed a complete success, or, why do people seem to prefer F/T?

[butters!]

one of the things that got me wanting a python was how awsome it is to see the nature of the hunt.sure i have had a few bites,thankfully nothing major and until there is something major i will continue with live.heh,i have to admit as well i like feeding by hand.even though i know wats comming it still sends the heartbeat soaring wich is good for ya,lol.

[rabernet]

What's interesting on this particular forum, when we've had polls in the past on live vs f/t, we've had more live feeders than those who feed f/t - or pretty darn close to even. I'll see if I can't dig some of those up.

I've personally never fed f/t myself, I've always been a live feeder and still am today for my entire collection.

[rabernet]

Here we go:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ight=live+feed

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...highlight=Live

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...highlight=Live

[Blightedchemist]

Thanks for all your input! I'll stay with live mice, I only have one snake(as of now) and F/t seem more for the breeder or keepers that have many snakes. Mine has been on live since it was hatched so I'll just continue, it will work best.

[Jenn]

I think you may find it the other way around. I don't think breeders with lots of snakes have the time to feed frozen.

[Argentra]

Biggest pro: Size. Rodents grow fast, as anyone who breeds their own food knows. Say you have 5 snakes and two are adult BPs. Those adult BPs are on small rats, but rats get bigger than small fast! F/T is a way to keep prey items at the size your snake needs them to be.
In addition are the cost benefits to someone with more than 2 but less than 20 snakes. Maybe not enough to start rodent breeding, but certainly too many to buy food for every week at the shop!
And of course, for some there's the safety factor that dead rodents can't bite. Maybe they have a snake that was bitten by its food early in life and is now afraid of live prey.

I myself am trying to switch everyone to FT since I have 11 snakes, breed my own rodents, and can't drive. Getting to the store is a 30min bus ride to get a size I don't have or PK rats for my two big girls. Being able to just get the food from the freezer and thaw it out is so much easier. Currently, my three little corn girls and my biggest female BP are taking FT regularly, which is great because they're the ones that take rodents that don't stay the size they need for long (fuzzy and hopper mice and small rats). Now if only my other big girl and the smaller BPs would take it...(no luck yet with the het girl).

I used to say I would never feed other than live. Then I said 'pre-killed only!'. Now...I feed PK and FT and wish everyone would switch between both equally like my corns do...

Sorry for the novel, there.

[branson]

Congrats on the first feeding. I fed mine for the first time on Monday. She was fed live at the breeder's so I gave her live. The process went by without a hitch, but I was nervous for her the whole time. I've seen the pictures of what mice/rats can do to snakes. I figure I'll try to switch her to f/t after a few feedings with me. I know they say that if it's done right feeding live is just as safe, but I don't think I can buy that just yet.

[stangs13]

I found out the more snakes you have, the more trouble it is to feed FT. I breed my own feeders now, and once I get the rest of my snakes, I will hopefully be feeding live totally!

[Blightedchemist]

I've heard there are dangers with feeding live, I havent looked into them yet, one because it will make me paranoid and id want to switch over as soon as, and two because I always plan to monitor feeding time.

[defuze]

Well I myself am new to snakes all around. I love my ball python, just wish he would come out of his hide more haha. But anyways, I like to feed live food, mainly because of the way I look at the situation, Im home everyday, mostly all day, I dont mind the 15 minute drive on feeding day. If he doesnt eat, save for later, just need a little rodent feed, also....I feel that feeding live is more natural, to the snake, and the way of life. Its like a farmer raising pigs just to eat himself. He kills it, cleans it, eats it. Sorry if this reply sounds stupid, but its just my 2 cents. Also, to me, its intriging to watch my BP eat live food and in my opinion you can learn alot more from your snake feeding live, over frozen.

Also, like I said, im new to snakes, but I have read alot. I think if u have alot of snakes, it would be better to feed live, mainly because you can breed your own, it can get expensive...but its less stressful and its just easier, no thawings, prep time...w/e ..., but there is always a chance that your snake will get bit, but I have raised rats in the past, not for feeders, but just to keep. Most rats are not aggresive towards anyone or any animal unless provoked, hell...I have had a rat sit on top of my BP for 15 minutes doing nothing but cleaning himself, until Randy got ticked off and rapped him up.