Why is It Legal to Feed Snakes Live Mice

• #1

i'm wondering is it against the law?

i've been told to only feed my snake mice that have already been frozen etc.

last night was the first time i fed it,

just wondering are we allowed to feed it live mice, it'd be more interesting to see it kill its prey.

any answers are much appreciated

kind regards

jack

• #2

Snakes in captivity and confinment can end up being injured or even killed by a panicking live rodent

kelly

Very Well-Known Member

• #4

My fiance had the "learn the hard way" lesson with feeding live. He had a beautiful, tame, brazilian Rainbow Boa, that was eating well on FT. The store was out that day, so he purchased a small live. The mouse, in panic bit the snake under the mouth and ended up killing him. It was HORRIBLE. I would NEVER feed live if you could help it! The thrill isn't worth the life of a family member!

• #5

1. The rat/mouse can injure the snake quite badly and cause infection.

2. It is an unneccesarily cruel (and often slow) death for the rodent.

And yes, I'm pretty sure that it is illegal under the Animal Cruelty Act.

• #6

oh no no i really dont want to be misunderstood,

i dont want to spark contraversy or anything of such nature

im just asking this is my first snake and was curious if we could

thanks

sorry kelly

jack

• #8

I've heard that if a snake eats live prey it tends to get more aggressive, too

• #9

The reason you keep snakes in the first place, should be for the beauty of the animals. Certainly not for macabre voyeurism,imo.

• #10

I've heard that if a snake eats live prey it tends to get more aggressive, too

Apparently feeding live makes the snake assosiate movement with food. Movement = hand reaching in to grab the snake

• #11

also once continulesly fed live prey they will more than likly refuse dead and thawed mice or rats

now for me it is not only cruel to feed them live food but is also much easier on me to keep a freezer full of food and not have to keep live food all the time

cheerz

just another thought why is it ok to feed live insects to lizards i have had a pet roach and when smaller a pet cricket lol

Hetty

Very Well-Known Member

• #12

ethics don't apply to insects.

• #13

I don't believe its against any laws to feed live prey to reptiles though
feeding live prey instead of thawed/dead prey can be a bit dicey such as natural instinct in the prey fighting for its life and injuring the snake and also prey being diseased and in some way affecting the reptile. 2ndly feeding thawed/dead prey is suggested to begginers as freezing kills any bacteria etc and its a lot easier/cheaper keeping dead prey then breeding live. finally for those animal lovers that may think its cruel to feed live prey should think about the way prey is killed before freezing (thought I'd mention that last bit as I recall a similar topic to this getting outta hand)

• #17

I don't believe its against any laws to feed live prey to reptiles

I'm 99% sure it's illegal in Victoria. Thanks to the greenies. Its unfair apparently, as the mouse has no way to escape the reptile.

Mayo

Very Well-Known Member

• #19

I think you will find that it is illegal Aust. wide. It is nearly impossible to prove though. There are exceptions to the rule as well but only under certain cercumstances. When I get home I will post some pic's of the result of live feeding. All bad.

bergstromwhates.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.aussiepythons.com/threads/why-cant-we-feed-snakes-live-mice.59344/

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