California King Live feeding...

[Poisoned1]

I am sorry if this offends anybody but do not read if you don't agree with live feeding...


Right now my california king snake is about 6 months old, he's eating small mice right now(frozen) as it's obviously safer for the snake.

The thing is I have a fascination with how snakes eat their food and just once I want to feed him a live mouse to see it in action. I just think it looks amazing, I won't continue live feedings but like I said I just want to see it once.

How long should I wait before feeding live? I am just going to buy a mouse at my local pet store, and obviously just the smallest mouse.


Does anybody here feed their california king live mice?

 

[zimbabwepegasus]

Ummm... you can feed any time.
Just make sure your snake is hungry.

It's not really all that cool with colubrids, I have to admit. And frankly, the one time Salvador ate live (after been having fed f/t), he was a clumsy constrictor and it was horrid and took forever with a poor little shrieking mouse.

Mira, the BRB, on the other hand... woah. I fed her live her first meal with me because that's what she'd been on and I thought I'd ease her into F/T. She is one quick, strong snake. The down side being, they're so quick that you kinda actually miss the strike/coil even while you are staring straight at it.

Go ahead and do it if you want... but be forewarned you might have to warm up miceys for awhile after... I don't think it's worth it, but I can understand the urge/curiousity.

 

[Poisoned1]

Hey thanks for the input

What do you mean warm up miceys for a while...

 

[zimbabwepegasus]

Here's my method.
Thaw out mousey.
Place mousey in small tupperware.
Fill larger tupperware with warm/hot water.
Place small tupperware in larger tupperware and put on lid.
Let heat up for a couple minutes- depends on size of mousey how long.
Tada- you have a little warm mousey.

And man- do you get a good feed response!

 

[Poisoned1]

Oh okay now I understand

You mean once I feed a live feeding my king snake might want extra warm mice right?

Yeah I got this like crock pot thing I got at pets smart when you stick in the microwave for 2 minutes and then you put mouse in it and lid on top thaws really quickly.

 

[Trogdor80]

My ball would never eat pre killed and would let itself starve if you tried hunger striking it. It would only eat live.

 

[PastorAaron]

I used to feed my old burm nothing but live and let me tell ya, it was a sight to behold right until she got chomped. The bite wasn't fatal, but it was terrible to behold. Barely had a scar last time I saw her, but it took the desire to feed live away from me.
God Bless,
Aaron

 

[lacy_black]

All 3 of my babies get live food. I understand it's saver to do the frozen stuff but the balls both would starve first (ballz refused for 6 months, I gave in) and cocoa our chocolate king gets her live mice.
Only once have I had any problem and it was with a male mouse who made me mad. I was going to try breeding and all he wanted to do was attack the females so into the bin he went with Isis. He tried to go after her so I grabbed my tongs and broke his neck. Not easy when she was trying to coil him but no way was I letting my baby get bit. :evil: