feeding live mice?

[eferna]

My ball is on frozen hoppers right now, I was wondering if it will be okay to feed him a live one today. I dont want to start him on live, but I would like to mix his food around a little.

[lanalizard]

sometimes, and especially with balls, when you feed a live rodent to a snake, then they completely go for live and will not accept dead....that is sometimes..i wouldnt recommend the switch tho.

[eferna]

so i guess its like a chance you take when feeding a live mouse.
Anyway I tried to feed my ball a rat pup, but it refused to take it. I also tried feeding two hoppers, but it only took one.

[Tim_Cranwill]

I wouldn't risk it for two reasons...

1. He might get the taste for live and be dificult to feed f/t from now on;)
2. There's always some risk of injury to your snake when feeding live prey. That being said, I'm sure there are tons of people who have been feeding live to their balls for years with no injuries, but just some food for thought.

Just do freshly killed or kill it and freeze it then thaw it...:)

[eferna]

I guess I will not take a chance with a live one right now.
Any ideas why he does not eat rat pups?

Thanks

[lanalizard]

what were you feeding it before you tried a rat pup?

[eferna]

f/t hoppers

[lanalizard]

you shouldnt really have a problem then to switch over to the ratpup but maybe your snake doesnt like rats? possibility....anyone else?

[eferna]

im going to the store to get 1 rat pup and 1 hopper. Hopefully he will eat the rat pup tonight.
I'll keep you guys posted on what happens

[Lisa]

Here is why you don't want to start with live.
http://www.proexotics.com/FAQ_answers_Why_do_you_suggest_feeding_thawed.html

Here's info on how to switch from mice to rats.
http://www.proexotics.com/FAQ_answers_switch_from_mice_to_rats.html

[Jeff_Favelle]

Discounting all the reasons for feeding live, your are not mixing up your snakes diet by feeding him frozen mice one week and live the next week! LOL!


But guys, a live hopper is NOT going to hurt a BP. Its a HOPPER, not an adult! I suppose we're gonna talk about killer pinkies next?

[krrc]

lol jeff... :D I can say for experince it's not a good Idea to feed live. my burm was bit twice on seprate ocations (first time my fault second time my dads) thank god it wasent bad at all but for almost a year she took live with no problem I guess her luck ran out. and we dident toss it in eather she took it out of our hands both times.

[eferna]

I dropped the idea about feeding a live hopper for now. Instead what I gave him was an adult mouse. Damn, I had no idea baby balls could fit an adult mouse into their mouths.
I took a couple of pics too. I will have them in the gallery soon!!

[Jeff_Favelle]

Unless they are an extreme runt, a Ball Python can take an adult mouse right out of the egg.

[Joe]

Even a hopper mouse can bite a snake, with an open wound on the snake it could get infected, why try it if you don't have too?

[BoidKeeper]

Jeff that is the same point I was going to make, same food different presentation is all. I would like to raise the point that just because a snake can eat a big meal does not mean it should eat a big meal. I'm of the opinion that they grow faster and healthier if they are feed smaller meals more often then a large less frequently. Anyone else feel that way?
Cheers,
Trevor

[krrc]

I dont have enough exprince to say for sure but it would make sence to me that a smaller meal would degest quicker therefor utilizing the most nuitrents possable.

[PO_0784]

My BP only take live mice....and he was on freshly killed food before :P..He dont like rat either

[escm]

im wondering why you would want to mix up your snakes diet? Im way thankfull my snake switched to f/t rats after being fed live mice since he was a kid...theres no way id risk having to switch him back and forth. hes eating rats now and hell be eating rats for the next many years to come.

[eferna]

okay heres the deal why i wanted to feed my snake a live mouse. By feeding a live mouse it makes the snake more receptive. By feeding a live mouse you let the snake still have that hunting instinct that is would have in the wild. I can understand that this snake is not wild anymore, but feeding a live mouse once every month would not do any harm.

[krrc]

it may in some snakes make them not want to eat F/T anymore and you may have to "train" it to eat F/T all over. so yes this does have a down side. (and why do it's risking getting the snake bit.)

[tightsqueeze]

i almost puked when i saw that pic that Lisa posted man that it so sad i don't feed live to any of my snakes for that reason !

jay

[PO_0784]

well my 3 ft and a half Bp is only taking live mice..as long as your supervise everything, I think there is no problems. Well, he seems so big when I get the mouse in his cage. He dont even need to coil himself around her since he is so big. He just use his tiny neck lol.

[Linds]

eferna,
I agree with everyone else. If you feed live you will not be doing your ball any favours, just exposing him to a potential bite and you will most likely have to train him back to taking prekilled and f/t again. To switch your ball over from mice to rats try scenting the rat pup. Thaw a mouse and rub it all over the rat pup (you can even brain the hopper and smear the brains on the rat pup) and then try offering it to your ball. Once he's taking them that way you can try offering him an unscented rat pup and he should take it. Good luck with your little guy :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
But guys, a live hopper is NOT going to hurt a BP. Its a HOPPER, not an adult! I suppose we're gonna talk about killer pinkies next?

Ever been bit by a hopper? They may not be adults (though close enough, some can actually breed at that age) but those little buggers still deliver a decent enough bite :eek: