feeding live mice

Corn_Snake1325 · 10-13-04, 08:18 PM

hi i have a 1 foot 4 inch.corn and he always was good about eating but the last time i feed him he didnt eat the mouse and so i was thinking should i start feeding him a live pinkey but i heard that live food are bad and nt good for the snake is that true and if i do feed him live food when it comes to the point to feed him big mice or rats how will i do that because i dont want him to get bit. and last question should i breed my own mice or should i just buy them from the store??or does it matter??

Thanks,cornsnake

ultimatecorns · 10-13-04, 08:46 PM

Actually, Live mice are more healthy and pose less of a digestion threat for the snake. You see, digetsion is more like a race, a race against harmful bacteria. The longer the animal is not living the more harmful bacteria can harvest in the mouse. I do realize that they freeze the mice alive, therefore no harmful bacteria. However, you then have to thaw out the mouse and then feed it to the snake. Thus giving harmful bacteria a chance to cause a problem. Feeding live mice prevents any harmful bacteria from naturally harvesting on the mouse. Also, if you are dealing with larger mice, like adults, all you have to do is stun them by holding them by their tail and with force slinging them in a circular motion onto a hard surface. Do research for mice breeders in your area, even if it means staking out at the local pet store. Just ask them what day they get their delivery and what time that day you could pick them up earliest. Then get to the store before the mouse breeder gets there, let him do his business and then talk to him. lol

Corn_Snake1325 · 10-13-04, 08:57 PM

so u hit them on a hard surface is there any other way to stun them???ill do it, but i want to know all the ways. because hitting them on a hard surface sounds kind of mean?

ultimatecorns · 10-13-04, 09:02 PM

It sounds gruesome, yes, but it prevents them from biting or injuring your snake. You can get so tweezer like tongs and pick them up under the neck and destroy their airway (very gruesome), but i prefer stunning.

damzookeeper · 10-13-04, 09:29 PM

I'm fairly new to snakes but Ewww! I've never heard of doing this to mice, that is just insain. If you are going to give it a stunned mouse why not just give it a fresh killed mouse. I don't think most of the snake keepers would take a mouse by the tail and wack it before giving it to their snakes. I eithor fresh kill or feed fuzzies or smaller, anything with eyse closed is harmless. If your snake needs larger mice I'd just wait a bit, sometimes they go off food for a feeding or two and then go right back at it. I wouldn't panic just yet and I would't wack a mouse on a hard surface, chances are if you don't kill it it could wake up before the snake got it and attack the snake anyway. If you want to try a fresh kill a clean neck break or co2 is the best human way of killing the mouse before offering to your snake. If I want movement I go with the neck breaking as their limbs will contingue to move for a few seconds. Again, I'm new to snakes and have been having a problem getting my baby corn to eat so don't take my advice solely and try to get more responses before deciding what to do.

marisa · 10-13-04, 09:34 PM

That's ridiculous.

Yes it would work. Sure snakes can be fed live mice all their life. But to base the entire point on "bacteria" is misleading IMHO.

Generations, after generations of snakes have been raised on BOTH live and frozen mice exclusively. The only differance is with feeding frozen you reduce the risk of injury to your snake by 100%

Hmm which too choose, which to choose.....

Marisa

ultimatecorns · 10-13-04, 09:48 PM

First off, I feed off thousands of mice just monsthy. I get them live from my regions moice breeder. I do twap them to stun them. This way is just as safe as frozen. It is also more nutritious. It doesnt take forever and a day to feed live on a large sacle as it does in f/t large scale. F/t mice are unnatural. Obviously snakes dont need frozen thawed. They actually prefer LIVE for a good reason: it's better! If I fed all my hatchlings nothing but f/t, i woul only have 25 eating each weak out of hundreds of LIVING SNAKES. Maybe f/t works for your pythons or boas, but these are Cornsnakes. Fresh killed mice are more of a threat then either f/t or live. Stunning is the way to go for hoppers and adults, with pinkies and fuzies you can just leave in the cage.

Tim_Cranwill · 10-13-04, 09:53 PM

Funny, I've never had ANY trouble getting corns to eat f/t... anyone else?

Bartman · 10-13-04, 09:54 PM

Are you serious? I only own 3 corns, but as far as I understand, corns are BY FAR THE LEAST picky eaters. My guys take down f/t like no tomorrow, so why even take the time to wack a rat/mouse?

Doesnt make to much sense to me.........

marisa · 10-13-04, 10:02 PM

I am also stunned by your terrible numbers of FT eaterS?!?!?! You are like the only breeder in the world of corns who has trouble getting that many to eat FT.

I have had only 43 corns take their first meal here, all FT, and 100% of their clutches.

Marisa

ultimatecorns · 10-13-04, 10:11 PM

Im talking about first time eating when it comes to those statistics. Also, twapping is far easier. Think about it, you do have to thaw. Stunned mice arouse the snake's appetite quicker. All you have to do for pinkies and fuzzies is put it in. All you have to do for hopper and adults is twap it on the rack of snakes and put it in our dangle it in front of it. Time=Money especially when you are paying employees

. LOL its not fair, you live in Canada, you snakes are used to all things cold. jk

marisa · 10-13-04, 10:41 PM

I am also talking about VERY FIRST meals. Actually, most even before the first shed. All FT.

I am not saying you are not correct about more bacteria in a thawed rodent, what I am saying is that is NO reason not to feed FT as many thousands uopn thousands of generations of snakes all over the world have been raised on FT and it has posed no problem for them.

Marisa

zero&stich · 10-13-04, 10:52 PM

I have a question, ultimate, feed exslusively live, have you ran into mites at all? Just wondering.

I personally also haven't see a corn fussy at all, even hatchlings after their first shed seem to take to FT like there goin outa style...

Quote:

Stunned mice arouse the snake's appetite quicker

I kinda disagree on this. As the art of scenting plays a HUGE roll to. The ol' FT mouse in chicken broth usually entices also. And theres other ways to entice when scenting.

As far as thr stunning issue goes, why not snap the neck and kill the mouse? Same effect. Prekilling.
This is all my .02 though.

ultimatecorns · 10-13-04, 11:00 PM

Stunning wont kill the mouse is my point and doesnt require any work to thaw.

zero&stich · 10-13-04, 11:29 PM

Prekilling is the same effect. Mouse is in lala land but 8-10 times the nerves kick or jerk legs, arms and rest of body. Should try it and see how it works out for ya.

Stunning, I'm always wondering just how stunned the animal is. I'm always wondering if it would "wake up", lol. I personally havent used the stun meathod so I can't really vouch in his area but prekilling is alot eaiser and more effective IMHO because the mouse is dead, animal doesnt need to use much energy to strangle a dead mouse and the nerves still create the act of a live animal for those fussy eaters

Ultimate, with 500 corns how do you keep with all the cleaning man? lol Hire a maid?? or butler? LOL just kidding around. =)