Just asking

[Ballpython2]

I know most of us including me feed frozen thawed or pre-killed but does anyone feed live?

I'm only asking because I was told this snakes hit hard when they go to grab there their food so i was wondering if anyone knew about them doing stuff like hitting a live rat so hard they like broke its neck or something..

I'm just curious. i'm going to stay with pre - killed for my Blood. so lets not make this a debate thread lol..thanks

[JLC]

A lot of folks here feed live. So long as it's done properly, it's safe.

As for bloods breaking a rat's neck from hitting it so hard....I wouldn't have a clue. Sorry. I imagine it's possible, but don't have any personal experience with feeding bloods.

[ohyeahnow]

As a kid I allways fed live, as did local biologists and other herp memebers. Now it seems many go for f/t. 4 of my snakes will just crawl up and swallow. My BP and king can be a pain. I would only switch back to live for them, which was easier, if they got unhealthy thin. They do not eat everytime, but the king has only had f/t and the bp had only had f/t for several months.

If I bred my own feeders, I would probably feed both these guys live. But at a fraction the cost I still save money even if I have throw away a few mice here and there. My big reason for doing f/t is to buy in bulk, as all my others eat f/t. Local pet shops here have poor husbandry. I do not wish to support them, or bring home and extra present with the feed. F/T is though to greatly reduce the chance of parasite exposure.

If you feed live, can you feed your blood in a large rubbermaid container? Should be less of blow should he miss strike. I could not imagine a succesful strike causing a problem, as the prey will absorb the force.

[Drew87]

I now have 3 bloods, 2 of them love live, and the other just does not care she will eat anything you put infront of her mice, rats she does not care. haha

[Ballpython2]

As a kid I allways fed live, as did local biologists and other herp memebers. Now it seems many go for f/t. 4 of my snakes will just crawl up and swallow. My BP and king can be a pain. I would only switch back to live for them, which was easier, if they got unhealthy thin. They do not eat everytime, but the king has only had f/t and the bp had only had f/t for several months.

If I bred my own feeders, I would probably feed both these guys live. But at a fraction the cost I still save money even if I have throw away a few mice here and there. My big reason for doing f/t is to buy in bulk, as all my others eat f/t. Local pet shops here have poor husbandry. I do not wish to support them, or bring home and extra present with the feed. F/T is though to greatly reduce the chance of parasite exposure.

If you feed live, can you feed your blood in a large rubbermaid container? Should be less of blow should he miss strike. I could not imagine a succesful strike causing a problem, as the prey will absorb the force.

You read it wrong when I said "broke its neck" I meant as anyone ever Seen a blood python strike so hard it broke the RAT'S NECK? LoL thanks for the responses though

[evilsinner]

i have never seen my blood break a mouse/rats neck but i have seen him pop the eye balls out on a few from constricting it. i feed all my snakes live critters but i keep a constant eye on them if they dont eat with in an h our or so of me putting the food in ill take the mice out and put them back in my feed container till later. rinse and repeat.