Live Feeding in The Reptile Community
By Nico Fuhriman
Live vs. Frozen Rodents
One of the biggest controversies in the reptile community—specifically, snake owners—is whether snakes or other carnivorous reptiles should be live-fed. There are various factors for either argument, which is why it is so heavily debated.
Live-feeding snakes has seen benefits. Snakes out in the wild naturally catch and eat live rodents. Snakes have not been domesticated the way our house pets have been; their instincts are still intact. Since snakes can be tamed but are not domesticated, they receive enrichment and exercise in captivity by being fed live. They get to use these instincts, and it can improve their overall lifespan and quality.
Although this may not be a reason people live-feed, some snakes are pickier than others and will starve themselves if not fed live rodents. This can be crucial to the animal’s health. Whether it is a baby snake or a snake that was raised on live rodents, the transition from live to thawed rodents is a long road and requires patience. There is also the possibility your snake may just never adjust to eating thawed rodents.
There are concerns about whether live feeding in captivity is ethical and humane for rodents but also snakes. Feeding live rodents to snakes puts the rodents through a lot of stress and fear before they eventually die. The rodents are kept in harsh environments as feeders. The snakes are also being put at risk—if your snake needs bigger rodents, they have teeth and claws. Snakes can be injured in the feeding process, whether it’s a small scratch or a chunk being bitten out of the snake. Snakes must be monitored while being live-fed to prevent these injuries as much as possible.
Dr. Jane Smith, DVM (Reptile Specialist), says:
“I have treated several snakes that sustained injuries from live prey. While it’s important for a snake to exhibit natural behaviors, the risk of injury can outweigh the benefits for many pet snakes.”
Purchasing live rodents can also be more expensive in the long run than buying frozen rodents in bulk. Live rodents are more likely to carry and transmit diseases and parasites to the snakes when eaten. Rodents can escape and lead to an infestation in the home or harm themselves if not captured.
Some people believe that no snake or reptile should be fed live rodents. Feeding snakes thawed rodents can be much safer for the snake and is much more humane and ethical for the rodent. It can put peace of mind to the owner, as they won’t have to worry about injuries to their snakes from the rodents. One of the benefits of feeding thawed rodents is that they tend to be more available than live rodents. Rodents that are frozen are more sanitary, as no feces or urine has to be worried about.
Dr. John Wilson, DVM (Reptile Behavior Expert), shares:
“In my experience, most snakes do well with thawed prey. The biggest hurdle tends to be transitioning the snake, but once they adjust, they are less stressed, and injuries are far less likely.”
Although not many, there are concerns with feeding thawed or frozen rodents. If the rodent isn’t eaten and kept in the cage, it can become a feeding ground for bacteria. There have been digestive issues reported in snakes if not handled properly. Frozen rodents have to be thawed properly for them to be safe for the snake to eat. If the rodents are not euthanized and frozen properly, they could carry parasites, but the facility where it takes place could expose the rodents to cross-contamination.
Overall the feeding of thawed or live rodents is all up to the owner and what they believe is better for their snakes. This topic will remain a controversy as long as snakes are kept as pets. The choice will remain up to what the owner thinks is ethical and what they would practice. Proper research and responsible feedings are essential to ensuring the health of the snake and the rodent.