Sometimes I thump 'em sometimes I don't...depends on the situation as most of my snakes are w.c. and I want a good feeding response for their first meal with me. With the babies it's always live pinks but as they get older and if they are to remain in my collection, the mice get bonked. I love having my snakes and watch every meal until it is down for good. I only have problems with my Mex milk about regurging because it will only eat large hoppers or small rat pups but when I try a full grown mouse, half way down, all the way back up. They have no distinction between head and neck so it must fit or it don't go down. All my others have no problems and my '03 MBK's can handle full grown mice easily now. I guess I tend to fall in the live and f/k catagories but as my collection grows may consider f/t. I do believe however that fresh is fresher and probably more nutritious but really we have no data to back it up. I personally would rather eat a Subway than a McDonald's most of the time but could go for either one on any given day. Since the snakes can't choose in captivity, I guess it's up to us to be responsible and do what we feel is best for our charges. Some snakes can and do eat road kill, so are they missing out on any nutrition? I think not as they saved energy by not having to hunt as hard or constrict/overpower their "prey". Been a great debate but I agree with Tom, let's move on. Hey Florida, ya'll are semi-tropical, where are the field reports? Hey John, these people deserve some more better pics! C'mon whaddaya say?

Todd Hughes

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