Which is better
- Thread starter BigSam
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A dead one is better, since occasionally the prey becomes the predator. I only feed my BP live, when I got it it hasn't ate since the person i got it from got (which was 6 months) and it took me 7 1/2 months to eat. I finally got it to eat live mice I hold the mice by the tail and let the snake take it from my hand(really stupid i found out with a 12 foot Burmese Python). If you can get it to eat dead it is the ideal way to feed them.
Live mice can bite the spine and paralyze(spelling) the snake or just chew thew crap out of the snake.
Wayne H
Live mice can bite the spine and paralyze(spelling) the snake or just chew thew crap out of the snake.
Wayne H
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- Dec 11, 2002
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I only feed my snakes dead mice unless the pet shop has actual live pinkies. Baby mice don't have teeth, so it isn't harmful to feed live. When my corns graduate to larger prey, I will definately stick with dead mice. I'd rather have a few dead mice in the freezer than a few dead corn snakes. It may not be as cool to watch, but it is still food to them. They eat anything.
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DEAD for sure! Bites, mites and all that stuff! 
If the mice are dead and frozen they are best.
Just thaw them out and offer with TONGS please.
No need to get nailed
If the mice are dead and frozen they are best.
Just thaw them out and offer with TONGS please.
No need to get nailed
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2002
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When I first got my Ball Python..he was partially paralyzed. Upon visiting the vet, it was found he had an infected wound, that had spread to his spine. Upon opening the absess, a rat tooth was found.
Fortunately, with daily shots of steroids, and antibiotics, Othello healed. Frozen is better. If it bothers you, seal them in ziploc baggies, and then keep it in an opaque Tupperware.
I myself, look on them as no different than hamburger meat, or any other meat.
Peace,
Gillian
Fortunately, with daily shots of steroids, and antibiotics, Othello healed. Frozen is better. If it bothers you, seal them in ziploc baggies, and then keep it in an opaque Tupperware.
I myself, look on them as no different than hamburger meat, or any other meat.
Peace,
Gillian
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- Aug 16, 2002
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- 2,927
There was an article in the Vivarium a few years ago that suggested that previously frozen rodents were actually more nutritious than non-frozen because the freezing process breaks down the tissue and make it easier to digest.
The only reason to use live is if you have a snake that absolutly refuses to take frozen, but even then it's bennificial to kill the mouse immediately prior to offering it to the snake.
BTW, in case any total snake newbies are reading this, when we say "frozen" we mean stored frozen, but totally thawed out before feeding. If a snake eats a mouse that is actually frozen, it can kill the snake. This seems obvious, but I've heard of it happening!
Wade
The only reason to use live is if you have a snake that absolutly refuses to take frozen, but even then it's bennificial to kill the mouse immediately prior to offering it to the snake.
BTW, in case any total snake newbies are reading this, when we say "frozen" we mean stored frozen, but totally thawed out before feeding. If a snake eats a mouse that is actually frozen, it can kill the snake. This seems obvious, but I've heard of it happening!
Wade
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- Aug 19, 2002
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- 1,328
frozen all the way...
Frozen thawed is the best choice hands down. No parasites and no risk to the snake. Not to mention a tremendous cost difference with frozen being far cheaper. Live mice are really only good when the snake in question refuses to touch frozen which most snakes will readily take. Too much risk involved with live mice the largest being that if a snake takes a bite from a mouse inside of it's mouth it can develop a bacterial infection and die from it. The smaller reason and still unacceptable to me is a bite on the snakes body which can cause permanent scarring and even worse lost eyes. Nothing quite like hearing a story about someones prized super nice looking boa suddenly losing an eye to a rat. Happens more often than you may think. I do have 2 snakes that eat live but that is simply because they wont take frozen one being a chondro the other being a diamondback. Not too much risk of the chondro being hurt though and no risk on the rattler.
Phil
Frozen thawed is the best choice hands down. No parasites and no risk to the snake. Not to mention a tremendous cost difference with frozen being far cheaper. Live mice are really only good when the snake in question refuses to touch frozen which most snakes will readily take. Too much risk involved with live mice the largest being that if a snake takes a bite from a mouse inside of it's mouth it can develop a bacterial infection and die from it. The smaller reason and still unacceptable to me is a bite on the snakes body which can cause permanent scarring and even worse lost eyes. Nothing quite like hearing a story about someones prized super nice looking boa suddenly losing an eye to a rat. Happens more often than you may think. I do have 2 snakes that eat live but that is simply because they wont take frozen one being a chondro the other being a diamondback. Not too much risk of the chondro being hurt though and no risk on the rattler.
Phil
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- Jan 29, 2003
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an old teacher that i had threw a prego mouse BP into her cage, it gave birth in the cage and almost killed the BP... It was sent to the vet... She doesnt have any more animals.... God I hated her....