Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I must of mistaken i did not meran i was going to feed 2 rats at a time i meant 2 small mice...i cant give him rats right now shes not big enough and my locat pet shop does not sell anything smaller than small rats....I was thinking what everyone said the main thing ims craed of is i do not want to kill rabbits lol i do not mind kiilling rats and mice byut rabbits ill feel so bad....I heard that rabbits can be fed luive because there not as dangerous as rats...its that true? Also I think i will try feeding dead for now but say i do switch back to live with rabbits will he still remeber how to kill and eat? Also after ive freshly killed that rat/mouse can i just dangle it in front of my snake with tongs and shell go for it? I would like as much details on this as i can get. Thank everyoner so much for helping me out Dont get me wrong ive had plent of snakes before just all burms and retics all just temp from people i know to learn everything about them. I used to have a burm so tame that i just drop in a dead rat and he would just go up and start eating him no questions ask no constricting eithetr lol.thanks aghain for the help
Mike

ps: in case I said he alot my snake is a female didnt mean to call her a him

If your boa is that small you should be feeding 1 dead rat pinky or pup at a time not multiple mice, not stunned. Rats are better prey than mice for boas. If you fed frozen/thawed you wouldn't ever have to worry about killing anything ever again, and you could get every size imaginable, and you wouldn't even have to leave home for rats, they'd come right to your door. Get over your head trip about defrosting if you don't like killing things because that is what you must do if you don't use f/t. Rabbits are more dangerous than rats, bigger teeth of the same chewing gnawing variety that rats and mice have, that can really damage and even kill boas. Did you read what I wrote about keeping a big stick in your hand and watching while you boas eat even stunned rodents? Well you'd need one heck of a huge stick for rabbits.

If you're looking for someone to tell you it's OK to feed stunned which is live, or feed multiple mice instead of a rat, and so far not one person in this whole forum of all levels of keepers has given you support for what you're doing, what do you think that means?

Caden

I feel the same way....I have delt with this on many different forums. The question would always be about live vs. dead, or should I or should I not power feed, cheap heat rock or undercage heating...etc.....in most cases the fact that the question is even being asked means that the person asking already knows the answer but is looking for support for "their" alternate way of doing things. No one can tell someone else what they MUST do, however, no one with any real knowledge or respect for this hobby will support what has proven to be a "less safe" way of doing things.

not to sound preachy (but perhaps I am ... lol ... or just a little) but if you involve yourself in something you can't just pick and chose which parts of it to ignore without having potential consequences arise. It may never happen but if it does the only one who would be responsible for your loss would be you (even if the loss is just the cost of a vet bill or two and not the loss of the animal).

Just my $0.02.
-----

In the original thread, the boa was described as 33" with a 1" GIRTH (around the body). This does not compute. Either the length is way off or the 1" is body thickness rather than girth. I'm inclined to say that even a hatchling should have more than a 1" girth.

Rule of thumb: feed enough to produce an obvious bulge in the belly. I don't have any particular preference for one rat vs. several mice as long as the mass is right. On the other hand, there may be price advantages to one food item the right size in comparison to several smaller items. Having to kill or thaw one rodent is certainly preferable to doing the same to several.

If the 33 inch length is correct, I'd go with a weanling rat or three adult mice. Unless the snake has been starved and is rail thin. Then I'd work up to that point over a couple of months.

I've seen boa constrictors that had rodent bite trauma. Even if the snake survives, it is never the same. Feeding dead is the way to go. If the snake has a hiding box, as it should, just putting the dead rodent's head in the door should be sufficient.

Paul Hollander

I understand those of you with large collections need to feed dead, but as far as someone with a pet, I think that the only reason live/stunned is dangerous is if the owner is too lazy to watch the whole thing through. I feed my snakes stunned and always have. I use tongs so that the snakes get the head first bite, and then wait until they start eating to close the tub. If you dont have time to do this, then yeah, feed dead. I personally havent had any problems with MY snakes eating live. (knock on wood)

I am all for frozen thawed. I personally love it (especially if you go to reptile shows) and dread when I misplan or something happens and have to go to the pet store to buy something and have to kill it.

My question to the post I am replying to is that if you are going to go through the trouble of 'stunning' the prey, why not just kill it? When your at the store ask them to give you a plastic bag if they didnt already and your all set.
-----
- Jason F.