feeling guilty about feeding

[samiam1796]

I am a fairly new owner of a baby kenyan sand boa, and I completely understand what you mean about feeding. I also love all animals and have owned rodents in the past. It seems like a hard thing to think about, however once you own the snake, the thought of giving a mouse for food becomes much easier because all you can see is a hungry little animal who I am sure you want to keep happy. Once they are your pet and you form a bond with them, you will do what it takes to keep them healthy and happy. I can say that from experience because I swore I would never feed a live mouse, however when my baby KSB was refusing to eat, I had to resort in feeding him live pinkies. I wasn't thrilled, however it got him to eat which made me happy in the end. The best piece of advice I have is to try and get it to feed in it's enclosure or a separate container (whichever you prefer) and just leave it in there with the feeder and walk away, that way you do not have to participate. HOWEVER, you should be prepared that if that does not work, you may have to participate and do the zombie dance with the feeder.

Best of luck!

[launimals]

Originally Posted by samiam1796

I am a fairly new owner of a baby kenyan sand boa, and I completely understand what you mean about feeding. I also love all animals and have owned rodents in the past. It seems like a hard thing to think about, however once you own the snake, the thought of giving a mouse for food becomes much easier because all you can see is a hungry little animal who I am sure you want to keep happy. Once they are your pet and you form a bond with them, you will do what it takes to keep them healthy and happy. I can say that from experience because I swore I would never feed a live mouse, however when my baby KSB was refusing to eat, I had to resort in feeding him live pinkies. I wasn't thrilled, however it got him to eat which made me happy in the end. The best piece of advice I have is to try and get it to feed in it's enclosure or a separate container (whichever you prefer) and just leave it in there with the feeder and walk away, that way you do not have to participate. HOWEVER, you should be prepared that if that does not work, you may have to participate and do the zombie dance with the feeder.

Best of luck!

Any tips on the care from a personal standpoint?
thanks!

[DJC Reptiles]

Honestly, feeding was hard for me starting off as well, it is a shame because I actually like mice and rats. I look on it from the point of, if you buy them humainly killed with carbon dioxide it helps to know they never expierenced any pain. Make sure you buy frozen thawed, that helps starting out as well. At this point, even though I still like mice and rats my love for snakes has suppressed that, and you will eventually get past it. I look forward to feeding my snakes, it is one of the main reason, if not the main reason why people keep snakes. Point is, if the mice or rats never feel pain, it would be okay with me. This is the best advice I can give starting out. But for me, my love for snakes would put me to start feeding live to some of my more picky animals. But most snakes, especially common ones like Kenyan sand boas will regularly and happily feed from frozen thawed mice in captivity, just make sure to dry them off to avoid substrate from entering the snake. (This usually doesn't matter if your animal is healthy).

Hope this helps,
-DJC Reptiles