Hamsters?

[FRooTLooPS]

Hi people

Do you think I can feed my corn dwarf hamsters???

[DAND]

Just as long you realize that the corn may like them better then mice and then you will have to always have a supply of them if the corn won't eat mice.

[FRooTLooPS]

Thnx

I breed hamsters thats why I asked.

[Rachel]

Would you be planning to feed them live or pre killed? Have you thought about all the work/dangers involved with feeding live and about procedures for feeding prekilled?

[phillyroc]

what precedures are you speaking of for pre-killed ?????


thanks
rocco

[DAND]

Originally posted by phillyroc
what precedures are you speaking of for pre-killed ?????


thanks
rocco

That means YOU wil be doing the killing of the prey so that the snake won't get bitten and/or scratched. When it is given a live food item which it has to kill itself there is a good chance your snake can get hurt by the food item.

[Rachel]

Exactly DAND :) I just wanted to make sure that Frootloops had thought over everything. Feeding live is very controversial (and imo not a good idea unless you know exactly what you're doing). Feeding pre-killed - killing them yourself- involves you finding a humane method of killing the prey that is safe and legal for you to do and safe for your snake (ie some chemicals used to euthanise would be lethal to your snake too if ingested).

[phillyroc]

what are some ways to feed pre-killed mice, how do ya do it easy and safe yet not to greuling?????


and as for braining, what cdo ya use a scalpel to slice the head?????


thanks,

the newbie,,,

rocco

[daytona]

Originally posted by phillyroc
what are some ways to feed pre-killed mice, how do ya do it easy and safe yet not to greuling?????
rocco


I've been feeding frozen/thawed mice. I don't want to kill them. I just put them in the freezer alive. in five minutes they are dead.
Many think freezing alive is cruel. It's not! They get cold, get numb, fall asleep then die.

If you put one in a zip lock bag your spouse won't complain too much. I just wrap them in tin foil and put about 6 in a deli cup.

Some here talk about their painless killing of mice. Some even built gas chambers (shades of nazi Germany). Why bother, just let the cold do it's thing.

I once tried to kill one manually. NEVER AGAIN!!!

As far as feeding live, I think it's under rated here. Just make sure the snake controls it's prey. Watch what's going on. Never leave a feeder with your Corn until it's on the way down the hatch. If things are not going as planned, remove the mouse form the cage.

Many owners enjoy watching the action. Just remember that there is a risk of injury to your snakes skin.

However if your cute little baby will eat F/Ts consider yourself lucky and don't take a chance of ruining a good thing.

Eric

[DAND]

Originally posted by daytona
Many owners enjoy watching the action. Just remember that there is a risk of injury to your snakes skin.

The skin is not the biggest concern, the eyes are. If the prey bites or scratches your snake in the eye you are looking at some big problems.

[daytona]

Originally posted by DAND
The skin is not the biggest concern, the eyes are.

Look, I used to feed live and I switched. That was only after I bought my first corn snake a couple of months ago. Any wild ones I found by the pool, or outback in my "wildlife preserve" <VBG>(about an acre of palmetto and pine forest, with adjacent woods) were fed live for the short time I messed with them. I had a Boa back in the seventies that was only fed live and he never complained.

Because it's a pet, no one wants to see it injured. But if you can feed live, once in a blue moon, and, still have the snake eat F/Ts, I think you are in good shape. The snake gets to do his thing and you get to admire him in action. I see nothing wrong with that.

Is there a risk involved? YES! Should an informed herper take that risk? I think it's up to them, not us.