Some people...

the photos are dated 2004... perhaps they aren't even current photos.

*runs from room*

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ladywhipple02

So it's not anything to be worried about that they miss a few meals. But there's a difference between them choosing not to eat and us with-holding food from them. They have no way to hunt, we've taken that from them. The least we can do is give them a rat so they can make the choice. It's cruel to take an animal and place it in a cage---giving it no means to hunt---and then not feeding it.

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But you're missing my point ... what makes you believe that a ball python "needs" to eat every single week? How do you know that they aren't just as content eating 6 times a year?

Which is the more responsible owner? Someone that knows their animals, understands their animals physiology, and feeds them as much (or as little) as necessary for them to thrive ... or .... someone that blindly throws a rodent into their snakes cage each and every single week because a pet store owner or a basic care book told them that is what they are supposed to do.

There is no instruction booklet that comes with a ball python and while care books, verbal advice, and posts on the internet are all certainly a starting point of good information to help people care for their snakes, it's each owners individual responsibility to learn what is best for their individual animal or animals and care for them accordingly.

Just as someone could turn their nose up and point fingers at a keeper that feeds their animal sparsely because that keeper feels that is what's best, someone else could turn their nose up at the keeper that stuffs their snake full of food 52 times a year when in actuality, the snake may need much less.

As long as both animals are healthy, neither way is right or wrong, just different.

-adam

I agree with that. Whole-heartedly.

I just feel that this person doesn't have the snake's best interests at heart. "He ran out of rats" and so hasn't been able to feed her "like he wants." Why not? Why couldn't he gets some, if he really wanted to?

Perhaps I'll email him and just ask.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ladywhipple02

I just feel that this person doesn't have the snake's best interests at heart. "He ran out of rats" and so hasn't been able to feed her "like he wants." Why not? Why couldn't he gets some, if he really wanted to?

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I've been in that situation and I can assure you that I have all of my snakes best interest at heart. Life happens and many circumstances are out of peoples control. You're very fortunate to have never been in that same spot.

Don't get me wrong, I definitely think the guy is a little shady on the whole "proven breeder" thing and maybe the "ran out of rats" line is just a lie to lend credibility to his story. That said, I am not a big fan of judging others and I think that there was not enough information in that thread to judge how this guy did or did not care for his animals.

-adam

I was quick to jump on him, I concede to that, and apologize.

I get worked up about stuff like this... my guy, Diablo, was starved because his keepers simply didn't want to pay to feed him. I don't understand it.

Sorry for being overly emotional. Something about the ad didn't sit right with me and I went off---but I do sincerely believe everything I wrote.

couldn't it be that the snake is fasting and he doesnt want the possible buyers to know?

*runs from room with recycling goddess* *wait up! wait up!*

Lol, why you running?

I think we've already laid to rest the fact that anything's possible :)