Live vs Frozen POLL

Neck & neck! on frozen and using both live and frozen!

It isn't a moral or ethical issue for me, it's one of convenience. I don't like breeding rodents, and I don't have a reliable source for live. I feed f/t. If something refuses to eat f/t, despite my best efforts, it will be going to live someplace else...unless it is one special critter.
That said, I don't much care if a snake is picky about what f/t prey items it will take...once I figure out what it is that they'll eat, I'm generally able to provide it.

I do start a small breeding group in the spring for getting babies going, though I usually only have to resort to live with BPs and some dumerils boas.

+1
Primary reason I got away from BP's years ago,they are worse then spoiled cats IMO.
I never feed completely "alive",I stun them and the twitching and flailing generally draws the response.

Transitions to F/T is much easier if the temp is correct before presentation,what is the correct temp for a prey item ?
3-4 degrees warmer then the animal being offered is my guide.

If the animal being fed is at 83-85*,prey is at least 88-90*.
Ground level animation is much less intimidating then the "hovering menace from above" most attempt.

Originally Posted by hhmoore

It isn't a moral or ethical issue for me, it's one of convenience. I don't like breeding rodents, and I don't have a reliable source for live. I feed f/t. If something refuses to eat f/t, despite my best efforts, it will be going to live someplace else...unless it is one special critter.
That said, I don't much care if a snake is picky about what f/t prey items it will take...once I figure out what it is that they'll eat, I'm generally able to provide it.

I do start a small breeding group in the spring for getting babies going, though I usually only have to resort to live with BPs and some dumerils boas.

I voted for both, but I actually use frozen very little. There wasn't an option for fresh killed, but I figure that equates to frozen for the purposes of the poll.
Most of the balls get live because they feed better that way. Everything else, along with the best feeding balls, gets fresh killed, partially to avoid any accidents, but mainly so I can feed and leave and not worry about a live rat in the cage.
Since I raise my own feeders it's become more of a hassle to thaw rats when I have them ready and warm in the rat building.
The species I have that takes pinkies as hatchlings gets thawed, but it only takes two minutes to thaw a batch of pinks.

As far as I'm concerned neither method is "better" than the other, it's a matter of what the snake responds to best and the preference of the keeper.

Here is some interesting information that suits this thread well. Just follow the link. It may be the authors opinion but you might like it.

http://www.vmsherp.com/LCLivevsFrozen.htm

Bump sorry couldnt resist lets keep a Vote in!

I have always fed my 2 snakes FT but that doesn't mean I wouldn't feed them live if need be. Live is less convenient for me, I don't have feeding stock because of my small collection and buying live is a lot more expensive than order FT for me. My major fear of feeding them live, especially with the milksnake who's not an aggressive feeder, is that that mouse would turn on him and hurt him.

Originally Posted by Metachrosis

I never feed completely "alive",I stun them and the twitching and flailing generally draws the response.

Just curious how do you stun them?

Originally Posted by brd7666

Here is some interesting information that suits this thread well. Just follow the link. It may be the authors opinion but you might like it.

http://www.vmsherp.com/LCLivevsFrozen.htm

This article is very complaining and makes a very good case for live/freshly killed.

Hello my name is mr Mouse and would like to say although being choked till I pee does hurt a lil but have you ever tried to peel your frozen body off that of a Stranger "geez how da grading"

My boas get frozen thawed only, my balls that will eat FT get FT, and everyone else gets prekilled. Like Clay, I raise my own rodents and like that convenience but don't want to leave a live rat in the tubs. Just makes me too nervous. The only live feeding is usually when getting babies going, and it's something small like hoppers or crawlers.