Feeding

Are we trying to justify killing rodents to feed our pet snakes? It is, after all a life form like you and me and our beloved snakes! Are we talking about controlling rodents in the wild, or say like in NY city? I would never feed a sewer rat to my baby! The diseases they carry would kill an elephant!

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Are we trying to justify killing rodents to feed our pet snakes?

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Yes.

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It is, after all a life form like you and me and our beloved snakes!

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Please tell me you're joking.

I'm not justifying anything. If I didn't keep snakes, I'd still consider rodents to be vermin, and they'd still be major transmitters of disease.

There is no justification needed. Rodents are part of snakes' *natural* diet. If you wish to argue Mother Nature, you're in for a tough argument. ;)

Everytime I eat a steak, or a piece of chicken, someone had to kill that animal for me. Why? Cause I like steak and chicken thats why. Our snakes dont just like rodents , they NEED them to live, unlike me eatin some plump chicken or juicy cow. The only moral issue I can see is the methods used to kill them, as long as they are not intentionaly cruel (ex. dry ice method is very humane).WHEN i used to kill my own mice to feed my savannah I neither enjoyed it or felt bad about it,it was what my animal needed to live and it was my job to take care of him,if I didnt want to do that for him than I had no right enjoying him in my home.

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Originally Posted by DavidBeard

There is no justification needed. Rodents are part of snakes' *natural* diet. If you wish to argue Mother Nature, you're in for a tough argument. ;)

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I agree with you on that. As for saying that rodents are life forms like us, was not joking. We are all life forms and what seperates us is our intelligence and intelligence alone. I like debates :wink:

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Originally Posted by DavidBeard

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It is, after all a life form like you and me and our beloved snakes!

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Please tell me you're joking.

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Come on, David. Rodents are life forms like reptiles and humans. It's not as if an iguana has more intrinsic value than a hamster. You just happen to be more fond of reptiles, while others would rather have hamsters, gerbils, rats, or even guinea pigs. Yes, rodents are a natural food type for many reptiles, and I don't have a problem with feeding my pets properly, but that doesn't mean I can't empathize with a dumbo mouse breeder who doesn't want to sell mice to be prey items. His or her preference for rodents isn't any less valid or reasonable than your preference for reptiles.

It is also a lot LESS indulgent than giving your dog rwhide, a pig's ear or whatever that bin of dried animal bits they have at the petstore for Chewtreats"

And whatnot :P

We could have ratfights and plae bets, mang . . .

Sorry to rant but I forgot to say I wholeheartedly agree with David that it is either a cover for ignorance,OR it is ignorance that causes people to apply human characteristics to animals. Take dogs for instance(I am a dog lover,cant live without one)
Dogs dont have egos people do and yet how many dog owners apply their own egos to their dogs. Some people do that with every animal they see, PROVIDED they find something they like in the animal (eg. its cute,its cuddly etc,etc.)

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Originally Posted by iceman25

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Originally Posted by DavidBeard

There is no justification needed. Rodents are part of snakes' *natural* diet. If you wish to argue Mother Nature, you're in for a tough argument. ;)

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I agree with you on that. As for saying that rodents are life forms like us, was not joking. We are all life forms and what seperates us is our intelligence and intelligence alone. I like debates :wink:

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I was referring to the attitude that "rats and mice have a right to live, so you are morally wrong to feed them to your evil snake." This is the PETA-esque mindset that is pushing to have our beloved hobby banished. Sorry, but I feel no moral remorse for providing my snakes' fundamental dietary needs.