How Not To Feed Your Snake (Graphic)!

http://imgur.com/r/WTF/sEae3MZ

I'll just link to it. Not for the squeamish.

umm, ok, EXTREMELY graphic, thanks for giving people a choice by just linking to it.

looks unreal. i cannot believe a single rat eating so much of a BPs body in a short time. i mean, the snake is partially gone.

I'm surprised this hadn't been posted here yet. It's just sad. So many things done wrong here...

so much wrong here. Too large of a rat, rat left in over night, BP kept on sand. The other sad thing is that some will look at this and say "see look what happens when you feed live". Live feeding is perfectly fine as long as it is done properly.

Last week I had the misfortune of being present for the discovery of an escaped baby who sadly found it's way into a rat growout tub. It was euthanized immediately, but I have no idea how it was still even alive. One of the worst things I've ever seen in my life.

Poor snake also looks very dead. :(
Owner is an :cens0r:!

Its a mouse. Not a rat.

I'm not even going to click, because I saw this image last week. This was a case of leaving the mouse in overnight. 10 hours. That's it. That's all it took for this tragedy to occur.

Live prey gets FIFTEEN MINUTES TOPS with the snake. If your snake isn't interested within 15 minutes, it's not hungry.

Thank you for sharing this, I was looking for this exact image to supply to a thread earlier this afternoon. I didn't find it, but I'm glad someone did. As sickening and heartwrenching as it is, people need to know that this is the danger of a prolonged, unsupervised live feeding.

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while i do not doubt that really bad things can happen, it seems a bit over the top.

just looking at the proportions, i would guesstimate that little rhodent just ate something like a third or half of its own body weight in raw snake meat. unless the picture doesnt show something.

im suggesting that maybe the picture was faked, but with good intentions and to make a point. maybe im wrong and its real, but when i look at it, i just wonder where the other 3 that participated in the feast are. if its real, i am astounded by the amount of raw meat that moved into a belly.

I saw that recently, posted by a local herp rescue group. My first thought was that it may have been faked by someone out make a point about feeding live. A lot of people seem to have a major issue with it. Either way that snake surely looks dead and it's a shame.

Unfortunately it is real, I've seen the video that the actual owner posted somewhere. Struck me as the type who shouldn't own reptiles, ever.

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Originally Posted by DeadLegs

Unfortunately it is real, I've seen the video that the actual owner posted somewhere. Struck me as the type who shouldn't own reptiles, ever.

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The picture is 100% and there are WAY to many versions of the story regarding it..

Why is everyone so quick to jump to the "it's fake" conclusion around here?

I agree. That image doesn't look photo shopped in the least. I don't really understand why so many people immediately jump to the, well that has to be fake, conclusion.

What this image is, is the sad truth of a poor little snake who had a terribly irresponsible owner who left it alone with a prey item that was too large.

I feed several of my snakes live that will not take f/t, but you simply can't leave them alone. Even my big normal girl, who is normally voracious, will refuse from time to time. And last week she did and the rat was particularly aggressive. It was biting the tub, the tongs, and when it went for her I was right there to stop the little bugger. That is how to feed live responsibly. Stay with the animal.

They aren't wild. They aren't out in the open. They can't take off if they decide they don't want the rat or if it scares them for some reason. They are stuck. Why? Because they are captive. As owners, the responsibility is ours to care for that animal. And all that image shows is that this person does not deserve to own animals. Clearly, he or she is irresponsible and didn't care about that animal. I would have been devastated to find a snake dead regardless of why. But to share with the world instead of snatching that rodent out of there? If it was for the purpose of teaching other keepers the dangers of not monitoring a feeding, I might understand a picture. But a video? Ugh.

hey guys, just wanted to clarify one little thing: when i say it could be fake, i dont mean photoshopped.

and the point that the picture makes is absolutely valid, i mean, in the sense of: dont leave live rhodents in with your snake unattended. never ever.

but maybe the snake died from something different, and the dead body has been used to make a point, by letting some rhodents partially eat it. so, no photoshop, but it could be a setup. i see no clear indications either way.

i have never seen the video, so i may be wrong.

Saw this last week on Reddit and the story is that the guy dropped a mouse into his snake tank to feed the snake then went to bed without removing the prey or giving it food.

Its obvious the mouse got hungry from being left in the tank so long and ate the only other thing in the area. Aka the baby ball. Not to mention that its way too large of a meal.

The morons commenting are all 'this is why you should never feed live! Blah blah blah blah'.
It was frustrating to read. I didn't bother commenting.

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Originally Posted by GeekAndDestroy

Why is everyone so quick to jump to the "it's fake" conclusion around here?

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Exactly my thoughts. I don't want to believe it either, but sometimes things actually are real. People really are this irresponsible, and I don't doubt that one mouse could eat that much.

I haven't seen the video so I don't know for sure, but the snake could very well be alive (although it looks kinda dead). Reptiles can endure terrible injuries (even decapitation) and live for hours or days afterwards... Not that I want to start a dead-or-alive? debate.

Phew.. Atleast its a normal

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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

Phew.. Atleast its a normal

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I hope you're being sarcastic.

I life is a life, no matter what color it is.

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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

Phew.. Atleast its a normal

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Even if you were being sarcastic, that's nothing to joke about. An animal (Normal or expensive designer morph) being eaten alive is no laughing matter. I love to laugh and love a good joke but this is a very sad horrific situation that could have been easily avoided. No jokes or sarcasm should be made in this thread. It sad that I even had to say that..


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Yet the mouse gets eaten alive in other cases, but that is overlooked or doesn't matter... Suddenly when a mouse gets hungry, since they need access to food and water at all times, its a horrible thing when the tables are turned...

Are ball pythons stupid or what? I just can't understand why the ball pythons don't fight back? Getting a bite or two OK that's normal it happens living creature does have to eat or tries to defend, but a ball python is able to kill much larger prey than they can eat.

OK they are not hungry and everything but I just can't grasp the idea the snake just watches themselves getting eaten and not killing the prey in their defense. :confusd:

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Originally Posted by Awaiting Abyss

Yet the mouse gets eaten alive in other cases, but that is overlooked or doesn't matter... Suddenly when a mouse gets hungry, since they need access to food and water at all times, its a horrible thing when the tables are turned...

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When the last time you've seen a snake swallow a mouse or rat when they are still alive? I'm pretty sure they kill it first before they actually begin to devour the food. I feed f/t so they are already dead but if they didn't take it I'd feed live or prekilled. The tables aren't being turned at all. This is the result of a owner not feeding live properly. If the rodent is fed and taken care of before being placed in the enclosure with the snake it won't have a reason to find another source of food. It's also the reason you don't leave them alone for hours on end so they get hungry and start to eat the only other thing they can. The snake. That's why live feeding always have to be supervised and the rodents be taken care of before placing them in with the snake. As another person commented it's not the wild. The snake and feeder are trapped together. No means of escape for either of them. So these things can and will happen if not done properly. I hope this comment doesn't come off as rude or as an attack because that's not my intention. Just want to inform.


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Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

I'm pretty sure they kill it first before they actually begin to devour the food.

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Venomous snakes and constrictors are the more humane ones who kill their food most of the time.

A lot of other snakes skip the killing part. They grab and start eating and will eat their prey alive.

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Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

When the last time you've seen a snake swallow a mouse or rat when they are still alive? I'm pretty sure they kill it first before they actually begin to devour the food. I feed f/t so they are already dead but if they didn't take it I'd feed live or prekilled. The tables aren't being turned at all. This is the result of a owner not feeding live properly. If the rodent is fed and taken care of before being placed in the enclosure with the snake it won't have a reason to find another source of food. It's also the reason you don't leave them alone for hours on end so they get hungry and start to eat the only other thing they can. The snake. That's why live feeding always have to be supervised and the rodents be taken care of before placing them in with the snake. As another person commented it's not the wild. The snake and feeder are trapped together. No means of escape for either of them. So these things can and will happen if not done properly. I hope this comment doesn't come off as rude or as an attack because that's not my intention. Just want to inform.


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I don't feed live to snakes, so never.

The tables are turned as in the mouse ate the snake.

No need to inform me. I know what happened and why. I was commenting on the fact that everyone is upset because the snake died, which yes, us upsetting, but mice die every day to feed a pet snake somewhere.

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Originally Posted by 200xth

Venomous snakes and constrictors are the more humane ones who kill their food most of the time.

A lot of other snakes skip the killing part. They grab and start eating and will eat their prey alive.

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This is very true, I thought about including this in my comment but didn't since were talking about a bp. But I do know that some snakes do not kill before eating there prey.


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Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

This is very true, I thought about including this in my comment but didn't since were talking about a bp. But I do know that some snakes do not kill before eating there prey.

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Ahh. Gotcha.

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Originally Posted by Awaiting Abyss

I don't feed live to snakes, so never.

The tables are turned as in the mouse ate the snake.

No need to inform me. I know what happened and why. I was commenting on the fact that everyone is upset because the snake died, which yes, us upsetting, but mice die every day to feed a pet snake somewhere.

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That is true that rodents are being eaten everyday to keep snakes alive but if snakes didn't eat rodents everyday then the rat population would be out of control. There are more rats and mice on this earth than humans. They will never be endangered and will always be around. Love rats and have actually had one as a pet so I understand where your coming from.


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This should have nothing to do about the food chain...it is a horrible display of crappy ownership and animal neglect.

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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

Phew.. Atleast its a normal

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Seriously? Stupidity should be both painful AND expensive. Sadly it was painful only for the snake. It would have served the crappy owner right to lose a high-$$$ morph.

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Originally Posted by jxl

Are ball pythons stupid or what? I just can't understand why the ball pythons don't fight back? Getting a bite or two OK that's normal it happens living creature does have to eat or tries to defend, but a ball python is able to kill much larger prey than they can eat.

OK they are not hungry and everything but I just can't grasp the idea the snake just watches themselves getting eaten and not killing the prey in their defense. :confusd:

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Yes. They aren't bright snakes. In the wild they're going to ball up or try to get away. Since the snake is trapped in a tank, it has no where to escape, so it balls up.
Their defense mechanism is to ball up, hence the name "Ball Python". They ball up in fear and defense and become the perfect sitting target.

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Originally Posted by Awaiting Abyss

I don't feed live to snakes, so never.

The tables are turned as in the mouse ate the snake.

No need to inform me. I know what happened and why. I was commenting on the fact that everyone is upset because the snake died, which yes, us upsetting, but mice die every day to feed a pet snake somewhere.

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Well, the difference in this case is that the snake is someone's pet. They have the responsibility to keep the snake safe, not the rat. If they chose to adopt it afterwards, sure, but the snake is in their care. The food chain doesn't matter here, this is neglect and abuse. Keep in mind I'm not against feeder snakes, but there's a difference between a feeder and a pet.

Ewwww!

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Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa

Well, the difference in this case is that the snake is someone's pet. They have the responsibility to keep the snake safe, not the rat. If they chose to adopt it afterwards, sure, but the snake is in their care. The food chain doesn't matter here, this is neglect and abuse. Keep in mind I'm not against feeder snakes, but there's a difference between a feeder and a pet.

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Its a mouse in the picture; not a rat.

I'm aware that the snake was the pet. My snake, mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters, degus, ferrets, cats, and dogs are all my family... Even the mice that I use as feeders. I also wasn't commenting on the food chain.

I see nothing wrong with this picture

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Originally Posted by GeekAndDestroy

Why is everyone so quick to jump to the "it's fake" conclusion around here?

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Originally Posted by WarriorPrincess90

I agree. That image doesn't look photo shopped in the least. I don't really understand why so many people immediately jump to the, well that has to be fake, conclusion.

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On the other thread, I saw signs of what looked like tampering on the second photo, however I see no signs of this one being fake. In this case people jump to that conclusion because it's less disturbing to believe that some troll would photoshop this rather than face the sad truth that a complete idiot utterly failed in their obligation to provide a safe environment for an animal in their care, and that animal died a slow and agonizing death (probably over several torturous hours) because of it.

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Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

When the last time you've seen a snake swallow a mouse or rat when they are still alive? I'm pretty sure they kill it first before they actually begin to devour the food.

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My hognose does, which is why I'm trying to switch her over to f/t asap, because a) it could spell trouble when she moves past pinkie sizes and b) it's quite unpleasant to watch/hear.

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Originally Posted by fishdip

I see nothing wrong with this picture

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Then you are either a troll or you are in serious need of an eye exam.

From legal dictionary -
cruelty to animals n. the crime of inflicting physical pain, suffering or death on an animal, usually a tame one, beyond necessity for normal discipline. It can include neglect that is so monstrous (withholding food and water) that the animal has suffered, died or been put in imminent danger of death. (See: cruelty)

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Originally Posted by Badgemash

On the other thread, I saw signs of what looked like tampering on the second photo, however I see no signs of this one being fake. In this case people jump to that conclusion because it's less disturbing to believe that some troll would photoshop this rather than face the sad truth that a complete idiot utterly failed in their obligation to provide a safe environment for an animal in their care, and that animal died a slow and agonizing death (probably over several torturous hours) because of it.



My hognose does, which is why I'm trying to switch her over to f/t asap, because a) it could spell trouble when she moves past pinkie sizes and b) it's quite unpleasant to watch/hear.

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No life is better then the next or more important. As soon as he got the feeder it was a animal in his care also. He put the BP and the feeder in the tank for a animal to die well guess what a animal did die. All the crying about the BP dyeing is just plan ignorant if you don't like death or think the snakes life is more important then a feeders life you will be in for a surprise when your time finally comes.

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Originally Posted by fishdip

No life is better then the next or more important. As soon as he got the feeder it was a animal in his care also. He put the BP and the feeder in the tank for a animal to die well guess what a animal did die. All the crying about the BP dyeing is just plan ignorant if you don't like death or think the snakes life is more important then a feeders life you will be in for a surprise when your time finally comes.

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You are missing the point.* This person neglected both the snake by leaving an unsupervised live feeder in the cage, and the rodent by leaving it in a cage with no food or water. All the "crying about the BP dyeing [sic]" is because an abusive owner allowed an animal to be tortured until it died, and then proudly posted pictures of it on the internet. I would be equally upset to see a rodent treated this way, it is unacceptable regardless of the species involved.

*And just wrong in a legal sense. However in a religious or spiritual context your argument about all lives being equal may have merit.

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Originally Posted by Badgemash

You are missing the point.* This person neglected both the snake by leaving an unsupervised live feeder in the cage, and the rodent by leaving it in a cage with no food or water. All the "crying about the BP dyeing [sic]" is because an abusive owner allowed an animal to be tortured until it died, and then proudly posted pictures of it on the internet. I would be equally upset to see a rodent treated this way, it is unacceptable regardless of the species involved.

*And just wrong in a legal sense. However in a religious or spiritual context your argument about all lives being equal may have merit.

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You don't think its torture to let a animal get its breath slowly squeezed out of it? As far as food and water in less the bp had no water also I am sure the tank had water also we all know what the feeder had for food.

Whether you believe in an intelligent designer or not, the snake is designed to asphyxiate the rat…in nature that's what it would do. If you don't like it, argue with Richard Dawkins or with the God of your choice, depending on what you believe in.

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

Whether you believe in an intelligent designer or not, the snake is designed to asphyxiate the rat…in nature that's what it would do. If you don't like it, argue with Richard Dawkins or with the God of your choice, depending on what you believe in.

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Its not about how a animal kills another animal. He is trying to say the BP was killed in pain as if the feeder was not suppose to meet the same fate and so its wrong.

So if a deer kills a hunter before he can shoot it and eat it there's nothing wrong with it, because the hunter was going to kill the deer anyway??:weirdface

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

So if a deer kills a hunter before he can shoot it and eat it there's nothing wrong with it, because the hunter was going to kill the deer anyway??:weirdface

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Yes every thing has a right to protect its self. So if you kill a human who was going to kill you then eat him its fair also.

whatever dude

I'm out

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Originally Posted by fishdip

You don't think its torture to let a animal get its breath slowly squeezed out of it? As far as food and water in less the bp had no water also I am sure the tank had water also we all know what the feeder had for food.

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actually, when the BP gets a good hold, its heart failure induced by disruption of blood circulation. so the mouse or rat goes unconscious and dies much faster, compared to asphyxiation. its quite humane.

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

Whether you believe in an intelligent designer or not, the snake is designed to asphyxiate the rat…in nature that's what it would do. If you don't like it, argue with Richard Dawkins or with the God of your choice, depending on what you believe in.

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see above.... if all goes to plan, the rhodent is dead long before asphyxiation could kill it.

if the picture actually shows what it implies (i still say its possible someone fed a dead BP to a mouse and the BP died from something else), then its cruel, unusual, and really slow. and preventable.

a mouse getting killed by a constrictor is not the same. seconds instead of hours, thats 3 orders of magnitude of difference right there.

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Originally Posted by Pythonfriend

actually, when the BP gets a good hold, its heart failure induced by disruption of blood circulation. so the mouse or rat goes unconscious and dies much faster, compared to asphyxiation. its quite humane.



see above.... if all goes to plan, the rhodent is dead long before asphyxiation could kill it.

if the picture actually shows what it implies (i still say its possible someone fed a dead BP to a mouse and the BP died from something else), then its cruel, unusual, and really slow. and preventable.

a mouse getting killed by a constrictor is not the same. seconds instead of hours, thats 3 orders of magnitude of difference right there.

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Well I will keep waiting for my BP to kill so well as he still has yet to kill a feeder in under one min. Heck the last one he ate was still making noise as he started.

I didn't expect to come back to this thread to find a trollfest.

As many have pointed out:

• It's a mouse, not a rat.
• It's 100% real. Not faked or staged.

And the point is if you feed live don't leave it unattended like that. You can get away with leaving a pup or younger but certainly not an adult feeder.

How this turned into a philosophical debate on the sanctity of life I have no idea.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

I didn't expect to come back to this thread to find a trollfest.

As many have pointed out:

• It's a mouse, not a rat.
• It's 100% real. Not faked or staged.

And the point is if you feed live don't leave it unattended like that. You can get away with leaving a pup or younger but certainly not an adult feeder.

How this turned into a philosophical debate on the sanctity of life I have no idea.

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What trollfeast? All I see is a bunch of BP owners having a conversation about killing.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

How this turned into a philosophical debate on the sanctity of life I have no idea.

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