Don's prey items

What I said, Will, was

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If he has them and they are a natural prey item, it makes sense to me to feed them.

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and

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If I have a snake whose most optimal food source is lizards, then that is what I will feed him, because that is good husbandry practice.

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which ought to indicate to you that I would do my research regarding natural and optimal prey items for my snake. If anoles are natural but not optimal for that particular species, I probably would not use them for food. If it were a snake that primarily ate lizards naturally and anoles were the most nutritious appropriately-sized prey item I had access to, you bet I would feed them. I haven't had any reason to do adequate research on this particular species and make the judgement call that would be required, so I can't answer that for if I had Don's ratsnakes. My off-the-cuff guess would be that it's called a "rat"snake for a reason and that rodents would be appropriate prey, but if it naturally has a diverse diet that includes lizards, I don't see any reason to jump on Don for breeding anoles as one part of his snakes' diet.

Mice are more eviler and deserve it.

Proof:

http://www.dutchindoorvillage.com/im...nalee/2195.jpg

Kidding aside I would think the most appropriate diet would be based on nutrition with convenience as a secondary or tertiary consideration. My kids will eat mac'n'cheese all day and while it's not BAD for them - and certainly easy for me since we have a mega box around - it is a poor cornerstone for decent nutrition. (throw a little mouse in the omlette for calcium and protein).

LOL...yer funny, Smulkin!

I think what Marla was trying to say was that it was inappropriate to tell someone NOT to discuss certain feeders on this forum because we're fond of them...which is what it sounded like Will was saying in an earlier post. That got all mixed in with the question of whether or not its appropriate to feed anoles to rat snakes...which of course is open for debate...but maybe should be moved to the feeder forum????

Thank you, Judy. I think any remotely reasonable feeder item is worth discussing, and some unreasonable ones are good for joking around (ya know, like Chee-tos). I've admitted I don't know the optimal food for ratsnakes, but I don't know for a fact that anyone else here does either because I haven't seen anyone offer evidence so support their positions. As people who keep company with predators, I think we have to be willing to face that our friends may prefer food that we're fond of in some way other than food. King Cobra keepers certainly have to face that.

I think it might be helpful for everyone to remember that the purpose of a forum like this is to EXCHANGE IDEAS, not dictate what is right or wrong or good or bad. If you disagree with what someone else is suggesting, you can say so without being argumentative or completely slamming the guy (or girl).

Quite right, Smynx....quite right!

Come on people......this is a RATsnake not a Vine Snake. Anoles are definitely NOT necessary and add nothing to the diet at all. I simply see no reason for this whatsoever.

David, let it go. I see no reason for you to be so argumentative, regardless of whether or not anoles are a "necessary" addition to the snakes diet. You've stated your opinion and Don can take it or leave it. It is, after all, his collection.

I suppose you're right. :roll:

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Originally Posted by Smynx

I think it might be helpful for everyone to remember that the purpose of a forum like this is to EXCHANGE IDEAS, not dictate what is right or wrong or good or bad. If you disagree with what someone else is suggesting, you can say so without being argumentative or completely slamming the guy (or girl).

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Smynx, you've just been promoted to "Queen of Common Sense."

And, with your permission, I'll change my sig line to the above quote. :D

As to the discussion about Anoles being used as feeders.....
Don has stated his intentions, has been given advice to the contrary, and now has to make his own decision. We are not going to harp on the issue. Anoles are used as feeders for some reptiles, so can be part of any feeder discussion, no matter who keeps them as pets. We would all extend the same courtesy to a King Cobra keeper who was a part of the site, even if they fed their KC ball pythons. Just because it is objectionable to you, doesn't necessarily make it wrong.
Play nice.