I need help! snake vs mouse

ErikBush97 · 10-04-13, 05:09 AM

Hi. I've tried to recommend my friend feed her snake frozen thawed mice (she's only had her first/only snake since about August 20th). She failed to do so and yesterday she uploaded a video of her snake eating a live meal. This snake is only a few months old, to start. Throughout the video, the mouse is clawing and biting the snake!! So I repeat myself and tell her that the mousd could've hurt, or killed her snake, and she replied with "Just because I don't do it your way doesn't mean I'm wrong". I feel terrible now for helping her pick out a snake.. I thought she was more responsible. Anyways, does anyone have any graphic images of feeding gone wrong? I know that's cruel, but if she screws up, her snake is the one who will suffer.

ErikBush97 · 10-04-13, 05:10 AM

By the way, I am not against feeding live, If it's done responsibly

infernalis · 10-04-13, 05:13 AM

I'm sure someone will post that graphic pic of the snake that was skinned alive by a mouse.

I run into this sort of head strong behaviour in people all the time.

post a link to the youtube, here and on facebook, the comments on the video will get flooded with dislikes.

MDT · 10-04-13, 05:37 AM

Who pre-kills their prey in the wild? Nature is cruel. Snakes get bit by prey. In turn, the prey gets a one-way tour of the digestive system of suborder Serpentes.

Having said that, and knowing that injury is possible, my snakes are too valuable (both in a personal sense AND a financial sense) to feed them live prey. Plus the fact it's a PITA to acquire live prey for my animals. A freezer of rats is a lot easier (and less smelly) to maintain than a colony of rats...

Just my 2 cents

ErikBush97 · 10-04-13, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

I'm sure someone will post that graphic pic of the snake that was skinned alive by a mouse.

I run into this sort of head strong behaviour in people all the time.

post a link to the youtube, here and on facebook, the comments on the video will get flooded with dislikes.

It's Facebook, and set to friends only :/ I just feel horrible because I'm the one that encouraged her to get a snake, and she's been taking sub par care of it. She has the ability and funding to care for the little guy correctly, but won't for some reason. We work for the same company, different branches, with about equal hours. If I can pay for five snakes, two dogs, and still buy things I want, she can most certainly pay for items she needs (thermostat, and another hide would be great), and she can surely at least supervise when she feeds. I've told her I'm only trying to help, and I've been very nice about it, but she goes right into defense mode when I suggest anything. Here's a transcript of one of our conversations
(This was about two, three weeks ago)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Her

I still haven't bought him a thermostat, but I will sometime soon. Maybe I'll order one online this week

Quote:

Originally Posted by Me

Uncontrolled heat mats can burn your snake, so make sure to put a Thermostaton high priority on your "things to buy" list

She then deleted my comments and sent me this PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Her

I know what I'm doing. I'll buy a thermostat when I am ready

SMH....

MH4C · 10-04-13, 05:51 AM

If a snake doesn't catch it's prey at the first strike in the wild, it will most likely escape and not try to fight back. In our enclosures there is no escape option and thus feeding either pre-killed or f/t (if the snake is willing) is in my opinion the most humane way to feed prey to any snake. Not necessarily due to the risk of the snake getting injured, but more due to the unnecessary stress inflicted on both snake and prey on case of live feeding...

ErikBush97 · 10-04-13, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT

Who pre-kills their prey in the wild? Nature is cruel. Snakes get bit by prey. In turn, the prey gets a one-way tour of the digestive system of suborder Serpentes.

Having said that, and knowing that injury is possible, my snakes are too valuable (both in a personal sense AND a financial sense) to feed them live prey. Plus the fact it's a PITA to acquire live prey for my animals. A freezer of rats is a lot easier (and less smelly) to maintain than a colony of rats...

Just my 2 cents

I don't think value, personal or financial is relevant. It's still a living animal, even being a $15 normal. She could at the very very least, keep the mouse from scratching or biting. I always use tongs to hold the feet of any live prey I feed, and I only feed live if 1,000,000,000% unavoidable. I just made a DIY Gas chamber. Shouldn't ever have to feed live again.

MH4C · 10-04-13, 05:54 AM

Also, don't blame yourself on getting her into snakes. Hopefully she will listen at some point and things will change for the better and otherwise refer her to the forum in case of any real problems, although she probably won't last long here

.

ErikBush97 · 10-04-13, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MH4C

Also, don't blame yourself on gettingsent into snakes. Hopefully she will listen at some point and things will change for the better and otherwise refer her to the forum in case of any real problems, although she probably won't last long here

.

I have... she won't join any forums, either o.o
I sent sent her a ton of graphic snake pictures. I doubt half of them are from mice, but she doesn't need to know that lol Hopefully it'll make her stay away from live. I was able to first d a picture on Google of a mouse biting the crap out of a snake that appeared to be dead. Seems promising. It's 5:00 AM here (just got off work), so I doubt she's awake, but hopefully she'll get those pictures and buy frozen.

MDT · 10-04-13, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GotsaQuestion

I don't think value, personal or financial is relevant. It's still a living animal, even being a $15 normal.

You may have misunderstood me...A $15 normal could be priceless to someone, meaning a personal value. I have some high end stuff that from a practical standpoint do not want damaged. I also have, what some may call "mutts"...however, personally, I wouldn't trade them for the world. That personal value.

And, please don't misunderstand, I do appreciate your being concerned w about the mouse. I do not go out of my way to be cruel, but I don't get too wrapped around the axle on feeding live stuff....I just want to keep my animals intact. Others may see things differently....

ErikBush97 · 10-04-13, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT

You may have misunderstood me...A $15 normal could be priceless to someone, meaning a personal value. I have some high end stuff that from a practical standpoint do not want damaged. I also have, what some may call "mutts"...however, personally, I wouldn't trade them for the world. That personal value.

And, please don't misunderstand, I do appreciate your being concerned w about the mouse. I do not go out of my way to be cruel, but I don't get too wrapped around the axle on feeding live stuff....I just want to keep my animals intact. Others may see things differently....

Ahh, I misunderstood you there. I am only going out of my way to be cruel to hopefully get my point across. I am not normally worried about feeding live, but seeing that mouse claw and bite her snake, and her not doing a thing about it really worried me.

Awaiting Abyss · 10-04-13, 04:10 PM

Its not only cruel for the snake, but its cruel for the mouse. In the wild they have the chance to escape. Can you imagine what its like for that mouse to be put in a bin with a snake? It knows there is nowhere to run or hide; its last hope is to fight for its life.

**Aaron_S** · 10-04-13, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Awaiting Abyss

Its not only cruel for the snake, but its cruel for the mouse. In the wild they have the chance to escape. Can you imagine what its like for that mouse to be put in a bin with a snake? It knows there is nowhere to run or hide; its last hope is to fight for its life.

You're far off.

I find mice and rats go up and sniff the snake. Sometimes even the face and then they get eaten. These prey items are born and raised in captivity for generations. They don't know what a predator is or to be afraid of anything.

**Aaron_S** · 10-04-13, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GotsaQuestion

I don't think value, personal or financial is relevant. It's still a living animal, even being a $15 normal. She could at the very very least, keep the mouse from scratching or biting. I always use tongs to hold the feet of any live prey I feed, and I only feed live if 1,000,000,000% unavoidable. I just made a DIY Gas chamber. Shouldn't ever have to feed live again.

It's okay to feed live. What isn't okay is to be cruel and hold prey items like that. It's a slight step down from the people who have said pull the teeth or claws out prior to feeding the rat off.

Feeding live isn't trouble. Very rarely does a snake actually get harmed. It's usually only harmed if they are left in for a prolonged period of time.

Kera · 10-04-13, 04:24 PM

You mentioned the teeth pulling with rats. My boyfriend insists that you have to do this with feeding live and that I should start feeding my IJ live because it's healthier. Sometimes I think he's a bit off with his snake knowledge...is he right or no?