Live feeding my bp?

[u/Dangerous-Status-171]

Hi guys! I got my ball python about 3 ish years ago from a local, humane pet store. When i got him, when he was a baby, i was advised to live feed him by the owners of the pet store. For 2 years i fed him one live mouse a week as he would take it (he had a 6 month hunger strike, saw a vet and it was fixed!). Since then ive been feeding him 2 live mice every two-three weeks in a separate enclosure and I havent had any problems with mice injuring him or attacking. Yesterday I saw a tiktok about live feeding and how it can be hurtful for the snake and have been having some doubts about live feeding him. Is live feeding really as bad as people say and should i be feeding him frozen? Is live feeding him the wrong choice? I would never want to put Sam in any danger and I only want the best for him. Please let me know what you guys feed your ball pythons and what i should be doing with Sam!

[u/IncompletePenetrance]

It is indeed a dangerous choice, over the years of running this subreddit we've seen countless injuries caused by rodents and live feeding. It only takes a split second for a rodent to reach out with a claw or whip around and bite your snake. At this age your snake should be eating one appropriately sized rodent in their enclosure, so switching to frozen thawed is the best and safest way to go. I've linked the guides for switching to !f/t and for getting on an appropriate !feeding schedule.

[u/AutoModerator → u/IncompletePenetrance]

We recommend the following feeding schedule:

0-12 months old OR until the snake reaches approximately 500g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every 7 days.

12-24 months old: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every 14-20 days.

Adults: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 20-30 days, or feed slightly larger meals (up to 6%) every 30-40 days.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/AutoModerator → u/IncompletePenetrance]

Some tips for feeding frozen/thawed:

• Keep with the same prey type he's been eating (mouse or rat) so you aren't trying to adjust him to two new things at once.

• Always feed in the enclosure. Moving to feed increases stress as well as increasing the chance of regurgitation

• Thaw and warm the rodent in a ziplock bag to maintain scent and because some won't eat it if it's wet.

• Make sure it's warmed up to body temperature (98-100).

• Some people find sucess with using a blow dryer on the head to make it extra warm and spread the scent.

• Some prefer to eat directly off of the tongs, while others might prefer for you to just leave it in front of their hide, you can see which works.

• If he doesn't take it the first time, don't give up. Sometimes they just have to be super hungry and it takes a few attempts

• You can also thaw the rat/mouse in some bedding from the petstore to make it extra scented.

• Some people "brain" the rodent by slitting open its skull a bit

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/cheshire-cheat]

i would have to agree with the Mod. there are instances where the snake could be injured by live mice/rats, i mean they do fight back, they don’t want to die. and with that, any skin breakage due to scratches or bites could also cause infection. with that being said, i have to feed live as i got my baby well into her life (she’s 20) and she refuses frozen. however, she’s been fed live 20 years and has miraculously never sustained any injuries aside from a few surface scratches. she’s one of the few cases where there’s no negotiation, and i’m not upset with that, she knows what she’s doing, but if i did get another snake, it would be frozen for the stated reasons. you’re not a bad owner by any means, but definitely start integrating frozen in his diet then taper into just frozen exclusively. he’s still young enough that he can adjust unlike my noodle.

[u/Toxic_Musshroom]

Live feeding can absolutely be dangerous, but from your description it sounds like you're also moving him to feed and feeding him two mice per meal and both of those practices are also very much advised against