Live or dead?

[Nektu]

I have been feeding both of my balls by hand live feeders. Typically I'll hold the feeder by the tail and dangle it in front of them and when they strike and have it it just slides out from between my fingers.

Currently I'm using mice to feed them. Wife is highly allergic to rats. I guess this is a two part question for you all, since I've been feeding live should I continue since they are not aggressive? Is there anything else comparable in size to the rats I should/could be feeding them? Thanks for your input.

[Damion930]

Id try to switch to ft ther realy are no benefits to feeding live and a lot of cons. As for another food item you could just feed multiple mice or I suppose small baby rabbits of comparable size.

[Nektu]

Id try to switch to ft there really are no benefits to feeding live and a lot of cons.
Well, what are the cons? I've been feeding live to my oldest now for 8 years. Absolutely no showing of aggression in that time. He's handled often, but not too often.

As for another food item you could just feed multiple mice or I suppose small baby rabbits of comparable size.
I have been feeding multiple mice, but could look into the rabbits. As far as I know they don't secrete the same oils as rats do, which is what my wife is allergic to. Ferrets secrete the same oil and she's allergic to them as well.

[Jenn_06]

lot of BP people feed live rats you just need to make sure the mouse/rat will not bite the snake and never wake away from the snake until you know the mouse/rat is died. you try to use f/t rats you can just keep your wife out of the room until the snake is done eating it.

[stephanbakir]

The main danger isnt to you, its to the snake, rats and mice and rabbits can do a TON of damage with teeth and nails. Rats can and HAVE killed snakes, same with rabbits.
Switch to f/t if at all possible.

[Nektu]

lot of BP people feed live rats you just need to make sure the mouse/rat will not bite the snake and never wake away from the snake until you know the mouse/rat is died. you try to use f/t rats you can just keep your wife out of the room until the snake is done eating it.
Even feeding earlier in the day before the wife gets home from work, she is so highly allergic that hers eyes will swell shut. And I'm talking at least 6 hours before she gets home. And I always make sure the mouse is dead. It's usually pretty obvious.

The main danger isnt to you, its to the snake, rats and mice and rabbits can do a TON of damage with teeth and nails. Rats can and HAVE killed snakes, same with rabbits.
Switch to f/t if at all possible.
I know they can cause some serious damage. But my biggest worry is the older one refusing to eat the F/T because he is used to live.

[infernalis]

My thoughts are that frozen rats should not trigger allergic reactions like live rats would.

Heat up the thawed rat by soaking in warm water, then make it "dance" with tongs in front of the python, they usually strike and start eating.

[Nektu]

I'll give it a shot. Not sure how the wife will handle having dead frozen rats in the freezer, lol.

[stephanbakir]

A method I have found that works for getting people to accept dead animals in their freezers, is telling them that the food animals come in "sealed plastic" place these in large Tupperware containers, and place those in cardboard boxes so your other half isn't forced to look at them.

[Nektu]

That might actually work. She hates the Tupperware that is in our upper cupboard because it falls on her when she is trying to get it down(she's only 5' 1"). But, we have a side by side and the freezer half is rather narrow and small. But I'm sure I can make it work. Purchasing another freezer only is out of the question.

[stephanbakir]

Cardboard boxes are an easy solution, you can tape them or lock em down, so that even if they fall on the person they don't open and spew frozen rats all over them.
That, and since they are cube/rectangle shaped they not only stack easy, but you can put them at the bottom and stack everything on them without worrying about unbalanced objects.

[Nektu]

In theory that sounds great. But, the freezer side has two deep drawers at the bottom followed by 3 shelves that are about 1' by 5". Might be able to utilize the top shelves.

[Damion930]

Hm you might be onto somthing wayne with the frozen rats ther wouldn't be as much dander from them I wouldnt think especially if they were wet

[presspirate]

I'll give it a shot. Not sure how the wife will handle having dead frozen rats in the freezer, lol.
My wife has adapted quite well to having dead rodents in the freezer.

[Lankyrob]

My wife has adapted quite well to having dead rodents in the freezer.

Just dont put them in your Chilli by mistake!!!!

[belovedboas]

Its funny for the longest time I would just hold the rat by the tail aswell...Until one day he missed and got my hand and constricted it. (4 1/2 ft desert kingsnake)..........ya not fun lol from than on I use tongs haha:) I learned a lesson that day.:):)

Ya dead rats in the freezer you get used to it lol my fiance still hates it tho

[presspirate]

Just dont put them in your Chilli by mistake!!!!
it's always good fun when the neighbor kids come over and I take out a few rats and ask if they are staying for dinner.

[stephanbakir]

Rofl, we had a similar situation.
When I was a kid we bread rats to feed the snakes, kept the frozen ones in a box in the freezer and one day the box broke so we needed to improvise till we got another one. We put the rats in an ice cream tub, when all of the kids came over for ice cream.... we never had friends over after that.

[Damion930]

Lol that's awsome I always ask the kids if they want a rat sickle during feeding time no takers yet.

[Nektu]

Its funny for the longest time I would just hold the rat by the tail aswell...Until one day he missed and got my hand and constricted it. (4 1/2 ft desert kingsnake)..........ya not fun lol from than on I use tongs haha:) I learned a lesson that day.:):)

Ya dead rats in the freezer you get used to it lol my fiance still hates it tho
Mine has gotten me when I was changing out his water bowl. I knew he was hungry. This has happened twice by him and once by the little dude.

Lol that's awsome I always ask the kids if they want a rat sickle during feeding time no takers yet.
That would go over about as well as a pork chop at a Mitzvah.

[stephanbakir]

Rofl, Ill buy the video of someone trying that rofl.