Differences between live and dead food?

Niten · 12-27-14, 08:58 AM

Does it depend just on the snake's tastes or do you push in one direction for a precise reason? We are talking about a baby Boa who's been given live mice until a week ago.
Thanks

**EL Ziggy** · 12-27-14, 10:09 PM

If a snake will eat f/t that's what I'll feed it. I prefer f/t because it's easy to store the feeders, it's no detriment to the snake's health, the mice don't have to suffer as much, and it's less expensive than feeding live.

SSSSnakes · 12-27-14, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

If a snake will eat f/t that's what I'll feed it. I prefer f/t because it's easy to store the feeders, it's no detriment to the snake's health, the mice don't have to suffer as much, and it's less expensive than feeding live.

Agreed, all good points.

Mad Max · 12-27-14, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

I prefer f/t because it's easy to store the feeders, it's no detriment to the snake's health, the mice don't have to suffer as much, and it's less expensive than feeding live.

That's why I prefer F/T too.

**Minkness** · 12-27-14, 11:17 PM

All reasons mentioned are very true, but I also mistakes happen and if the pray is mot killed and eaten swiftly and in the right way, it can harm, permanently damage, or even kill the snake.

Before researching all I could on feeding, I had considered just buying some breeder mice and doing my own when she is full grown, however, that costs more money, time, and possible injury that I just do not want to deal with.

Since there is no nutritional difference between live and frozen, there is no need to go through the drama of live....unless you have a VERY picky snake.

CrotalusR#1 · 12-28-14, 01:14 AM

I keep all hots and fed only live cas it was no harder than frozen thawed.

Once I was bitten by a venomous snake and felt the intense pain, i stopped feeding live or at least will let them strike the mouse and them quickly kill the mouse. I don't like watching them flip out in what's most likely a very painful experience, especially after felling it first hand.

**Minkness** · 12-28-14, 01:24 AM

I may be wrong, but I'd figure a hot would have less chance to be injured by the prey because of the venom immobilizing them.

Non-venomous don't have that luxury =(

SSSSnakes · 12-28-14, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

I may be wrong, but I'd figure a hot would have less chance to be injured by the prey because of the venom immobilizing them.

Non-venomous don't have that luxury =(

Some HOTs hold on to their prey until they die and could still be bitten. It's not as likely, but it can happen.

shaunyboy · 12-28-14, 07:35 AM

i feed frozen thawed straight from birth mate

i have no issues with people feeding live,but.....

i feel feeding live in an unnecessary risk to the snake...

once a snake starts feeding on any rat larger than a rat pup,then imo there is a possibility the prey may bite and injure the snake

cheers shaun

eminart · 12-28-14, 10:36 AM

I feed frozen thawed because it's easy and there's no risk of bites. That said, I don't think bites are a big deal in 99% of the cases. I also couldn't care less about being "nice" to the rodent. I think that's a human sentiment that the rodents don't share. Being killed by a snake would be one of the fastest ways to go in nature.

CrotalusR#1 · 12-28-14, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrotalusR#1

I keep all hots and fed only live cas it was no harder than frozen thawed.

Once I was bitten by a venomous snake and felt the intense pain, i stopped feeding live or at least will let them strike the mouse and them quickly kill the mouse. I don't like watching them flip out in what's most likely a very painful experience, especially after felling it first hand.

So it's not because the risk of the snake being bitten although that that risk is still there, but more for the mouse not having to go threw that experience. Like I said has really more to do with a gross out knowing there going threw what mite be a similar pain I went there at least for some species..

I know it happens in nature and I 100 percent agree with that!
I just wanna clarify it's more of a mental thing like a gross out after being bitten ... I still feed live to my couple non venomous cas it's no harder than frozen thawed in my situation. Like sssnakes said on a different thread it's your choice.

Niten · 12-28-14, 03:48 PM

Thank you all!

SnoopySnake · 01-03-15, 10:12 PM

F/T can't eat/bite your snake.

Kuamata · 01-03-15, 10:45 PM

There are quite a handful of graphic images of what can happen to your snake with a live prey item. If your snake is too picky to eat f/t, then never ever leave your snake with the prey item unsupervised, be close by in case anything happens, have some reptile first aid on hand just in case, and be prepared to take your snake to an experienced veterinarian for more serious injuries (like a gash). Prey items, even mice, are 100% capable of chewing up your snake if it doesn't happen to be hungry and you aren't there watching. It has happened before.

This is why f/t is usually preferred over live.