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Kaa
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 63
Location: Houston, TX
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 Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:55 pm Post subject: Mice & Rat pups Question's |
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Well, me and my son could barely convince the wife to let us buy a BP. Therefore I will definitely not be allowed to start a Rat or Mice breeding farm in my house. Heating up frozen rodents is out of the question too.
That will only leave me with feeding life food 
Q here is: When hatchlings I belive mice or rat pups are OK to feed correct ? What is more dangerous to the BP though ? Mice, Rat pups, rats, etc. What do I have to have in mind before putting the rodent into the feeding container ? A rat bite is probably worse, but what is meaner and more agressive ?
Also any advice on what to have ready and look for when feeding life rodents ?
Just getting as much info in before Kaa arrives. 
Thanks,
Ulf
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RonCrawford
Site Admin
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 2005
Location: Pottsville, PA (USA)
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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Rat pups couldn't hurt a snake if they wanted to. Adult mice (and possibly hoppers) on the other hand are a different story. You could place a piece of food in the cage for them to chew on and of course, never feed without overseeing the situation.
In the case of mice, a better option might be to stun/pre-kill the prey item and offer it to your ball python from tongs/tweezers/hemostat/etc. Some people grasp the tail using their hand but I can't suggest doing that because of the risk of the snake missing the prey item and tagging your hand but again, a lot of people offer prey that way.
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Kaa
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 63
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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| RonCrawford wrote: |
In the case of mice, a better option might be to stun/pre-kill the prey item and offer it to your ball python from tongs/tweezers/hemostat/etc. Some people grasp the tail using their hand but I can't suggest doing that because of the risk of the snake missing the prey item and tagging your hand but again, a lot of people offer prey that way. |
How do you stun/pre-kill the mice/rats ? I mean do you grab it by the tail and smack it against something ? :-
I have some long hemostats that I could use I guess. Maybe just grab the tail of the mice with them and then offer it to the BP ?
Rat pups I guess can be just placed in the feeding tub and left alone so the Ball can take it correct ? Alwasy of course standing watching the process.
Last edited by Kaa on Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ladybookworm915
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 97
Location: Iowa City, IA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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Here is advice on prekilling feeders I found on the internet when I was doing research before getting my bp. It is from Feeding Strategies Kingsnake Trouble Shooting. Hope it helps.
If it's left up to you, there are a few simple and painless ways to get the job done. The easiest would be to place the rodent into a small paper bag and hit it against a hard stationary object. The rodent impacts with enough force to instantly kill it. The other option, is to hold the rodent by the tail. Using a ruler or similar object pin it to a table top at the base of the skull. With a quick pull of the tail up from the table, you break it's back and separate the spinal column, thus killing the rodent. In my opinion, either of these two methods are the best way to accomplish this uncomfortable task.
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BP_Lover
Joined: 18 Apr 2008
Posts: 159
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:22 am Post subject: |
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well when feeding any rodent you have kill it first or beat it . just put it in a showbox and smash it around or to kill just twist head
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6671
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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| BP_Lover wrote: | | well when feeding any rodent you have kill it first or beat it . just put it in a showbox and smash it around or to kill just twist head |
Pay no attention to Bp_lover. 
Personally, I wouldn't recommend twisting the head of a rat unless it's one that can't bite or you have on steel gloves.
I don't like the paper bag method because the force can break the bag. We have several examples of DYI gas chambers for rats that are painless and humane. Check out the DYI section so you can be aware of another option on handling this messy task.
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ryancbj22
Moderator
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 698
Location: Columbus Ohio
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | well when feeding any rodent you have kill it first or beat it . just put it in a showbox and smash it around or to kill just twist head |
Yeah thats kind of sick! I wouldn't reccomend that to anyone. Like Deb said I wouldn't grab it's neck. A bite from a rat doesn't feel good, not to mention there not the cleanest animals around either. So a bite from one of these could cause health problems (worst case).
| Quote: | | I don't like the paper bag method because the force can break the bag. |
I use the plastic bag method every week with no problems. Never heard of the paper bag, but sure it's the same thing. The only problem i've ever had with this is getting the mouse or rat in the bag. You have to be quick, becuase they run out FAST. I drop them in quickly close the bag, and get the air out then smack them on something hard.
| Quote: | We have several examples of DYI gas chambers for rats that are painless and humane. Check out the DYI section so you can be aware of another option on handling this messy task.
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As for the gas chamber I have never tried it, but I have heard from numerous people that it works great. It's also better if your planning on killing more than one rat. My snakes all eat live, and I have one that eats pre-killed. So the gas chamber is not in my plans just yet. Once I get more that are eating pre-killed or F/T I will use this option....
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Kaa
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 63
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| ryancbj22 wrote: | | My snakes all eat live, and I have one that eats pre-killed. So the gas chamber is not in my plans just yet. Once I get more that are eating pre-killed or F/T I will use this option.... |
So when you say they are eating live, how do you feed them if they can't be left running free in the enclosure with the BP ? Do you hold them ?
Great info so far. Love this forum.
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ryancbj22
Moderator
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 698
Location: Columbus Ohio
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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Who said they can't be left running around? I drop mine in the tub and close it. I sit in front of the rack until they constrict and release. Once they start eating I move on. I always come back in 10 or 20 minutes to make sure everything went ok.
No mice or rat should ever be left alone when placed in an enclosure. Yes I let them go in the tub, and monitor to make sure they don't start chewing on anything.
The ones that get F/T and pre-killed I use tongs for.
Left alone is an over statement. The mouse or rat goes in, but I sit in front of the tub and watch what happens....
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Kaa
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 63
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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so I guess I just got to be ready in case the mice / rat gets a hold of the BP correct ?
I do like the idea of not having to mess (pre-killing) with the pray.
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ryancbj22
Moderator
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 698
Location: Columbus Ohio
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah personally the only problem i've ever had was a rat chewed threw my cord on my theromometer. They usually stay away from the snake, but you never know.
ALWAYS MONITOR WHEN FEEDING. AT LEAST UNTIL THERE DONE CONSTRICTING, AND START EATING THE PREY....
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6671
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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| ryancbj22 wrote: | Yeah personally the only problem i've ever had was a rat chewed threw my cord on my theromometer. They usually stay away from the snake, but you never know.
ALWAYS MONITOR WHEN FEEDING. AT LEAST UNTIL THERE DONE CONSTRICTING, AND START EATING THE PREY.... |
I totally agree...
Just let me add to this, because I read Kevin's Ball Python book and saw a snake with 90% of the skin chewed off by a mouse, that the prey usually stays away from the snake until they get either curious or hungry..neither is a good situation, and a scared rat (or any prey)is dangeous.
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