Force Feeding Ball Python

[dbank999]

Over the weekend, I made my usual trip to the local large chain pet store to purchase some frozen rats for feeding. Whenever I go into these stores I always check out their Herp section (it is a pretty good selection might I add, but none the less same typical care provided :no:).

But what I did notice was that on the Ball Python display was a note that said "Think Adoption First - We have a Ball Python that is available for adoption...."

So I asked the clerk at the checkout what the story was with the little guy, and to which I was informed he requires force feeding..

So I want to ask you guys.. How serious is this issue? My first thought is that they have no idea how to provide care for these animals and that I could probably get him eating, but at the same time I have never dealt with force feeding, luckily my current Ball has a great feeding response (although I think he is blind LOL) and my Carpet is a garbage disposal..

I guess I don't want to take the responsibilty of adopting this guy, if there is a chance that I can't get him to feed and would rather let someone else who might have a better shot at saving him get it. I do know his days are numbered being at the store though..

Any advice?


**yes I spelled "feeding" wrong lol**

[SSSSnakes]

I have force fed snakes and prefer not to. If I think a snake might eat on it's own again, but is skinny, I may force feed it to gain the weight back. If I feel the snake will never eat on it's own, then I choose to tube feed the snake. It is less stressful. Tube feeding is making a mixture of food and turning it into a baby food like mix and tube feeding it to the snake. The advantage is that it is quicker and less stressful on the snake if you have to do it every week. Shoving a rat or mouse down a snakes throat is very stressful for the snake. Many pioneers in the reptile industry tube feed some of their snakes, such as Kathy Love and Bill Haast.

[Chris72]

Don’t...buy / "adopt" the animal.........

First, the pest store has (very likely) screwed up things in so many regards that they created the issue with that animal. They likely screwed up the temps, humidity, diet, etc. (could have mites) Often they are under lights all day with no hide since its harder to sell what you can’t see so the animal is stressed constantly. Now they have nearly killed it so they are trying to sound like they care by calling for adoption? (B/S)

If you buy that animal...sorry...adopt, you are only encouraging the pet store management to replace it ASAP. As cold as it sounds....if management sees a track record of financial failure with Ball pythons they might one day want to stop stocking them or at least reduce the number they cycle per year.

Don’t do it....

[dbank999]

Don’t...buy / "adopt" the animal.........

First, the pest store has (very likely) screwed up things in so many regards that they created the issue with that animal. They likely screwed up the temps, humidity, diet, etc. (could have mites) Often they are under lights all day with no hide since its harder to sell what you can’t see so the animal is stressed constantly. Now they have nearly killed it so they are trying to sound like they care by calling for adoption? (B/S)

If you buy that animal...sorry...adopt, you are only encouraging the pet store management to replace it ASAP. As cold as it sounds....if management sees a track record of financial failure with Ball pythons they might one day want to stop stocking them or at least reduce the number they cycle per year.

Don’t do it....


This is true, I had already basically decided against it when they said froce feeding was required. Just thought I would get some insight on the issue.

Thanks!

[formica]

arnt ''adoptions'' from pet stores, free? i have adopted a few from shops in the past, a baby beardie with prolapse, and corn that wasnt eating, I was happy to take them away from the shop tbh, as both where suffering as a result of the shops not having a clue, but I wasnt charged a penny for them

i do understand the argument against doing this, but i'd rather help the animal, and let the shop know why the problem occurred in the first place, in the hope that they can get it right in the future.

have no suggestions for helping a ball to feed other than all the usual tricks, i'd be v concerned about pet shop staff force feeding a snake tbh, they have hard time figuring out thermostats

[dbank999]

Yeah, pretty sure there was no fee for adoption. First time I have ever seen the sign before in the store as well.

My main concern is similar, that while an already feeding ball python has a good shot of making it out of the care of the horrible pet store and into the (hopefully properly educated) hands of a new owner, one that is not feeding will surely die in the hands of the pet store. Not from a lack of force feeding or assist feeding, but from the fact that the workers probably do not know what they are doing.

[Chris72]

Yeah, pretty sure there was no fee for adoption. First time I have ever seen the sign before in the store as well.

My main concern is similar, that while an already feeding ball python has a good shot of making it out of the care of the horrible pet store and into the (hopefully properly educated) hands of a new owner, one that is not feeding will surely die in the hands of the pet store. Not from a lack of force feeding or assist feeding, but from the fact that the workers probably do not know what they are doing.

Exactly.

If the animal actually dies in the store then there is a chance someone in management becomes aware of that. Perhaps after the 5th time they kill a python management at that store will stick to easy feeding high turnover animals.

But if every time they bring a snake to the edge of deaths door....it's adopted...

...they are always going to replace that animal ASAP.


In the long run adoption of that nearly dead animal might help that one animal but that action is not a good thing for ball pythons.

(The vet bills might end up costing you a fortune if it's that far along)

[formica]

pet shops are not going to stop selling snakes, or any other reptile, no matter how many die in their (mis)care. they have ''waste'' margins, just like every other business, which allow for said deaths in their profit margin.

and tbh I dont think pet shops should stop selling them - what should happen, is that people should educate them as much as possible, and keep trying to educate them, until practices improve. if thats to much effort, then fine, but i see nothing positive about telling people who are capable of helping an animal, not to help them, just to make a point, or send a message, or whatever else its supposed to do. it certainly isnt going to improve pet shops, that i am sure of.

[Chris72]

pet shops are not going to stop selling snakes, or any other reptile, no matter how many die in their (mis)care. they have ''waste'' margins, just like every other business, which allow for said deaths in their profit margin.

and tbh I dont think pet shops should stop selling them - what should happen, is that people should educate them as much as possible, and keep trying to educate them, until practices improve. if thats to much effort, then fine, but i see nothing positive about telling people who are capable of helping an animal, not to help them, just to make a point, or send a message, or whatever else its supposed to do. it certainly isnt going to improve pet shops, that i am sure of.

Appreciate and respect your view.

Mine is different.

[nyx]

If the animal actually dies in the store then there is a chance someone in management becomes aware of that. Perhaps after the 5th time they kill a python management at that store will stick to easy feeding high turnover animals.

But if every time they bring a snake to the edge of deaths door....it's adopted...

...they are always going to replace that animal ASAP.

I don't know if you quite know how capitalism works. If a pet store spends $20 to bulk-buy that ball (likely) and it is given away for adoption, the store has not only lost $20, it has lost all the manpower, supplies, and time spent on the animal. Now, if it can sell that animal, it will definitely not learn its lesson - since the new owner will lose the snake and then possibly come back for another one.

It is not likely to make a difference one way or another if you adopt this animal, to the pet store, at any rate. I am surprised how many people are telling you not to take it home; it isn't difficult to start a slow feeder if you have access to live prey (which normally I abhor, but better live prey than a dead snake). What I would be worried about: crypto, mites, IBD, giardia, etc. However, I think they are not very likely and, with quarantine, you could reduce that risk considerably.

The animal is probably not eating because it's in a pet store. Get it into a proper environment with appropriate heat and humidity, offer it a slightly smaller prey item to begin with, and it will probably go just fine.

[Chris72]

I don't know if you quite know how capitalism works. If a pet store spends $20 to bulk-buy that ball (likely) and it is given away for adoption, the store has not only lost $20, it has lost all the manpower, supplies, and time spent on the animal. Now, if it can sell that animal, it will definitely not learn its lesson - since the new owner will lose the snake and then possibly come back for another one.............

It does not matter to me in any way, shape, or form if you "don't quite know if I know how capitalism works". Further, the remainder of your response makes little sense and goes in two different directions. If you have another viewpoint I would hope you could find a way to express that without being derogatory.

Regardless, just as you were kind enough to point out; if the store continues to shrink stock on $20 dollar animals (with related time, materials, etc) it is well within reason that at a certain level of loss Vs sales the management may eventually see that stocking ball pythons is not a worthwhile use of funds, cage display space, hourly wage, etc.

In management there are measurable on that sort of thing and, typically, that is what drives planning on stock for the future.

The idea that the new owner of the very sick animal would go right back to that store to spend money for another is frightening. We can only hope that would not happen. (ie - Supporting a shop that takes such poor care of their animals)

This conversation is starting to circle.

[formica]

Doing nothing, is exactly that, its doing nothing, it solves nothing, and helps no animals live better lives in captivity.

Pet shop owners are not deliberately setting out to hurt animals, people who work in pet shops are not deliberately trying to use incorrect care and setups - infact the opposite is true, people who own pet shops, love animals, and people who work in pet shops, mostly, feel they want to be involved in animal care in one way or another in their lives.

Yes there are exceptions, but mostly, they want to learn and care for the animals in the best way possible, and just like all of us, when we all started our journeys, they simply need to learn.

[Aaron_S]

I wouldn't touch an animal that only "requires" force feeding from any pet store. Who knows what else it may have. It tells me right there that the husbandry is off so it could have a multitude of problems.

Does anyone know what force feeding actually is? It's generally done with a pinky pump. You grind up pinkies into a slurry. Pass a tube into the snakes gut and then pump it in. THAT is actually what force feeding is. Would you like to do this?

On the topic of helping pet stores. I would not help any store empty it's enclosures by purchase or adoption.

[SSSSnakes]

Actually force feeding is pushing a rodent down the snake's throat whole. It is normally done by holding a rodent by the neck with forceps and inserting it into the throat, then massaging it down to the stomach.

[Chris72]

I wouldn't touch an animal that only "requires" force feeding from any pet store. Who knows what else it may have. It tells me right there that the husbandry is off so it could have a multitude of problems.

Does anyone know what force feeding actually is? It's generally done with a pinky pump. You grind up pinkies into a slurry. Pass a tube into the snakes gut and then pump it in. THAT is actually what force feeding is. Would you like to do this?

On the topic of helping pet stores. I would not help any store empty it's enclosures by purchase or adoption.



Exactly this..!



Imagine the animal likely arrived in a fairly healthy state.

Now that store has brought that animal to the brink of death...to a place where it's only hope is for someone to force food into its gut by hand.


Why on earth would any self respecting animal lover set foot on that store or spend a single penny on anything in there?


Why are we even talking about this?

.

[formica]

Exactly this..!



Imagine the animal likely arrived in a fairly healthy state.

Now that store has brought that animal to the brink of death...to a place where it's only hope is for someone to force food into its gut by hand.


Why on earth would any self respecting animal lover set foot on that store or spend a single penny on anything in there?


Why are we even talking about this?

.

because the OP wanted to discuss it, and, ignoring a problem, doesnt make it go away, neither does simply stating how awful pet shops are, without doing anything pro-active to help the situation.

I always stop into any pet shop I am near by, to check up on the reptiles they have, and adopt any that need help, its been a while since I've seen a sick animal needing adpotion in a pet shop...why? because, whether you want o believe it or not, they do actually care abut animals on the whole, and they do actually want to keep animals healthy, not just for the animals sake, but for the sake of the business, so conditions have steadly improved. at least they have on this side of the pond :) but i still check.

[Chris72]

Right....

And I believe the original poster had made his mind up about what he will do.

We are done.