Rant: Feeding Live to Reptiles

[riqui1]

I had a ball python that didn't eat for the better part 6 months. I tried, repeatedly, to feed her mice. The mice bit her a few times and, while it upset me, I never once thought that the mice were in the wrong! lol

Regardless, I finally talked to someone that held a bit of wisdom and learned that another thing that Ball Python's eat, when they are not considered to be domesticated, is gerbils. I tried that and Presto - instant appetite! My snake wouldn't touch mice or rats - dead, alive, frozen, pinkies...all she would eat is gerbils. Tell the woman to try a gerbil!

 

[Wifezilla]

The OP is just upset because, while she dosen't hold with live feeding, she's selling mice to those who DO live feed in her community so she knows that the mice had a good life, but she dosen't want the mice abused, either.

That's what I understood. Even if a mouse is to be food, it should be properly cared for. Healthy food means a healthy snake.​

 

[dappertophatter]

THANK YOU everyone who posted after I did- I hate to see fights on this friendly site and I'm glad it stopped!!

Wifezilla, yeah, common-sense husbandry, right?

 

[EweSheep]

Top Hatter, all you just have to say something and it is common courtesy to respect one's wishes if they want the debates or arguements to cease. Most of the time it works!

I decided to let others respond to this because the woman who is feeding the snake has no idea whats going on and the OP's response was doubled answered in both avenues in how to feed a snake, ethically or unethically and sometimes once you sold a mouse or mice, it is pretty much out of your hands. I think the woman need to go back to Caring for Snakes 101 under "what if my snake does not eat the mice, what should I do with it?" chapter and covers the subject of caring for feeder mice.

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

Even if a mouse is to be food, it should be properly cared for. Healthy food means a healthy snake.

My mice don't have to be housed. They don't last that long

One mouse a week- with the exception of brumation.​

 

[little_grey_bantam]

Quote:
AH HA! Now this is WHERE it comes into play... at least the professional from the "beginners."

I have snakes that won't eat if it isn't live. Mind you, these snakes are 20+ years old. What we do is when the snake strikes, we grab a prod and break the rodent's neck.
How long HAVE YOU had reptiles? Me personally only 10 years, but I know of other people who've spent their ENTIRE lives with snakes...

I don't know about YOU, but I wouldn't want to die from asphyxiation. You may think it happens quickly, but not always. Have you know anyone who has died from asphyxiation between 30-1 minute? THey usually fight and jump and pounce for a couple minutes before dying. ESPECIALLY if they can gasp for those extra gasps of air! Then it extends the death even longer!

See, so when you have no respect for a live animal being fed to your snake, you also do not have respect for your snakes as well.
Now while I understand most people get "snakes" to see them eat, a PROFESSIONAL as well as a more respectful ADULT-matured person will begin to understand that feeding frozen/thawed or pre-killed is more necessary, safe and just the better alternative.

"Half the fun of having a large snake" is NOT to watch it KILL and eat something. I know people who've had snakes for 40+ years - all pre-killed, frozen/thawed and once in awhile, they've gotta feed it live until they figure out a way to switch them over to dead. NOW, I know some people have had snakes who WONT eat, but either they're not smart enough to figure out how to do it, OR rarely, the snake is wild caught and just doesn't understand and really won't and there is nothing much to do. The fun of having a large snake or any reptile is to witness and handle its beauty and just see overall how amazing these creatures are.

So I can just see you're immature and you've got a more twisted way of raising and caring for your animals. Sorry, but that, out of my experience is how I see it.
I raise rodents AND reptiles, both have respect and both are cared for properly.

I don't play these "What's the point of having a snake if you can't watch it kill something?" is something similar to people who let their cats free-roam and kill things "It's just doing what is natural to it." Pfffffft. Animals suffer, you individuals just think it's "great." Just shows lack of respect, intelligence AND overall maturity. Period.

 

[little_grey_bantam]

Quote:
Oh and on this comment

yeah, none of your business if some lady takes a bunch of FREE kittens homes and feeds it to her dog or gator or whatever the heck she has. Or if she eats them herself. Nope.

I'm Asian, so maybe I should go pick up a free dog and take it home and cook it and eat it? (I won't) Yeah, none of your business right?

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

Ok. This thread died yesterday, and now you bring it back, just for the sake of argueing with Boyd? Who's the immature one here?

Boyd said he liked to watch his snakes eat to observe nature in action. I challenge you to find a snake in nature that will eat a frozen/thawed mouse.
My snake was not CBB, and as many times as I have tried, she refuses to eat live mice. So I will continue to feed live, long after this thread is locked. It's the cycle of life for the mouse and my snake, and I am not ashamed or sorry for it.

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

Quote:
Oh and on this comment

yeah, none of your business if some lady takes a bunch of FREE kittens homes and feeds it to her dog or gator or whatever the heck she has. Or if she eats them herself. Nope.

I'm Asian, so maybe I should go pick up a free dog and take it home and cook it and eat it? (I won't) Yeah, none of your business right?

Go ahead, but be sure when you skin it not to get any hairs on the meat. They're tough to get out of your teeth.

 

[bockbock2008]

Quote:
Or it's gravid.