What's your opinion on this..

[Tserisa]

Every snake I have owned has converted to a pre-killed diet easily. I have owned quite a few snakes.

I know very few snakes which have resisted the change to a pre-killed diet over the course of years, despite working as a volunteer at a reptile show which took animals to schools to teach compassion and conservation and belonging to a herp-keeper's association. Responsible owners keep trying, even after years. As someone mentioned -- persistence and patience!

CO2 is one of the accepted humane method of euthanasia by the AVMA for appropriate species (most mammals, including rats and mice). "Inhalation of CO2 at a concentration of 7.5% increases the pain threshold, and higher concentrations of CO2 have a rapid anesthetic effect" (AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia, 7). There are accepted methods of using CO2, with compressed CO2 gas in cylinders (AVMA Guidelines, 8) that feeder animal companies like T-Rex adhere to.

[BrainDeadBuster]

I just wanted to add that if you own a reptile or amphibian that will only go after moving food, then buy a good pair of feeder tongs, and you can make the pre-killed mouse "come alive".

[lmarieaa]

I just wanted to add that if you own a reptile or amphibian that will only go after moving food, then buy a good pair of feeder tongs, and you can make the pre-killed mouse "come alive"

I tried to do that with my firebelly toads and dead crickets, they would attack them like normal and then spit them out like poison...but maybe it was just the taste of the commercial dead crickets.

I always found it odd that when I would watch Animal Cops on animal planet, and they would rescue snakes and rats, and the rats could only go to homes where they would be kept as pets...so, what are they feeding the snake if the mice and rats they get all go to homes? The snake has to eat. Isn't it hypocritical to feed a snake a rat and then adopt the rescue to a home? I am confused :S

[AnimalFarm2006]

So what about Ferrets vs Whole prey? I have chossen to start my own colony of feeder mice raised holistic for my ferrets along with feeding them a supliment of ferret kibble, and soupie.