small mouse died in cage.

this was the crazyest thing i have ever seen. it was time to feed Rolly( my 1.5 ft ball python) and i droped a mouse in the cage and everything was shaping up fine, then rolly started to advance but extreemly slowly like 1 in per 30 seconds. then all the sudden the mouse started to convulse then fell over then started twiching. i realized holly crap it died. the snake hadent even gotten to it yet it was only 5 inches away. i think the mouse had a heart attack or a stroke. has any one else had this problem. he still ate it but i dont think he enjoyed as much.

fish

Your snakes eats to live. There is no enjoyment in the kill for him and its a bit disturbing that there is one for you. Most of us here feed our snakes and enjoy the fact that they eat but are not thrilled by the kill.

i didn't even kno mice can have heart attacks cause my mini hamster has been attacked by my cat like 8 times

I have to agree with Jamie on that. I get no enjoyment out of watching my snakes eat live. I do get enjoyment out of watching them have great feeding responses, but that's it!

thats not what i mean. it just took him a long time to eat it. it was like he didnt know it was there because it wasnt moveing. when they are moveing areoud he goes right for them, and starts to eat them iemediatly. he just took a relly long time before he even noticed it was there.


fish

what do youall think happened to the mouse? have any of you ever had this happen?

fish

I like to see the mice screm and strugly it like waching animal planet or discovery, I realy engoy washing a kill, theres nothing wrong with that.

maby i am a little sick too. i grew up hunting and loved it. the question you have to ask your self is (do you enjoy eating. or does it feal like a emotionless experience. so what do you think the snake feals i emagin that he proabbly enjoys him self)

any one rember the movie road trip. and the hole thing with him feading the mouse to the python. it was halerious.

Well, I dunno.... when i tell people that i have snakes, they practically beg me to let them come over and watch them eat. And when they do, they think it's really 'cool'.


When we were kids, our councilor at day camp brought in his snake to let us watch it eat.. we all thought that was kinda 'cool'.

I don't like the rat feedings because i have had many as pets, but i really kind of enjoy watching my snakes eat the mice. The whole process is just out of this world.

I have to disagree with the last 2 post but do agree with the 4th post. I also hunt but its not the paintfull death that brings hunters to the sport. Its the excitment of being there and the excitment when you find and get the animal that your hunting. And yes you may eat them, but it doesnt mean you like to watch them in pain. Personaly i hate watching it if and when it happens. I like watching my snake eat, but not the pain the mouse goes through. So im done with my opinion.
So back to that question, I have never had that happen and if I were you, I probably would have taken the mouse out and given the snake a new one. It could be a medical problem with the mouse that may have hurt you snake but also may not have.

There is something very unsavioury in enjoying watching a living creature suffer. It is incredibly stressful for any rodent to be faced with a large snake and I wouldn;t be suprised if it did indeed have a 'heart attack' probably due to an underlying abnormality of its heart. If you seriously get off on watching animals die rather than a helathy snake eating I would suggest you start feeding prekilled.

i enjoy watching my snakes eat too, but not in the way that i love to see the rodent suffer. i like it because it's interesting to me, how nature works with how they swallow and unginge their jaw and everything. i get to watch the food chain, and nature in action i guess is why i like it.

as for the mouse, i dunno what happened. my best guest would be like you said, a heart attack or stroke.

poor fish keeps digging himself holes and then stepping in them :fishslap:


It is interesting to watch the first few times, and its amazing how their bodies work, but I hate the idea of the rat/mouse being terrified for a minute or so and have its life slowly squeezed out of it. Some baby rats are dang cute, not fun at all. It's even worse when they miss the neck/lungs wrap, or dont get a good grip and the death is slow :(

I tend to toss in the small rat/baby rat and go back and check on them after i finish tossing them all in. I only do this with the snakes that have an EXCELLENT feeding response, because I know the rat wont have time to mess around with the snake. I also raise my own rats so i know theyve been fed and watered well, and know they are less likely to attack.

i can see how this is a 50/50 croud. lol

fish

so is it just me who really enjoys watching a snake at its finest. I love watching the strike and coil, and then the swallowing....

its just really interesting to me, and always has been.

so maybe its just me....

:)

Insert f/t version live discussion version 26 here.

I think there is a fine distinction between enjoying watching your snake hunt/eat...and enjoying watching the prey suffer and die. If you say you enjoy watching your snake eat, be prepared for someone to interpret that as you saying you enjoy watching the rodent die.


And we all have different levels of sensitivity and empathy for other creatures. It doesn't make someone "bad" if they are less sympathetic to the mouse than someone else.

that is treu not every one is the same, and have the same idea of a topic that is way we are all diferent and interesting, every one is unike and that is way is interesting to see other people opinion. imagine if we were all the same..... BORING lol

touchae

Once and a while I enjoy watching the process of my snakes stalking and coiling their prey and then proceeding to adjust the prey item, and start the swallowing process. It's all so interesting to watch their methodical way to eat a meal, I like to see how the parts of the snake work together to acheive its ultimate goal.


I don't see it as being sadistic, unless of course you drool over the fact that the rat/mouse is getting the life squeezed out of it, and you think its 'cool' that you got to choose which mouse/rat at the pet store gets to live or die.

The whole live vs. frozen arguement just irks me... People need to realize as long as you are responsible there isn't a problem with feeding live. Feed your snake whatever it wants to eat, and whatever is easier for yourself.

Personally its easier for myself to feed live...I have three BPs that eat small/medium rats, two of which will only eat live...and the petstore where I buy rats sells small/mediums for the same price regardless of live vs. frozen.

/end rant. :)

BTW, I did enjoy feeding a mouse that I "saved" from Bengal the other night...he latched on to my finger big time, which I can tell you didn't make me sympathetic.:twisted:

Just to clarify - I did mean to differentiate between enjoying/watching the snake hunt and eat as an act of nature (Monty has only ever had f/t but I still am fascinated watching him eat) and enjoying the suffering of the mouse/rat. I suspect for too many people snake ownership is about the latter (especially the teenage boys!).

There was only one person who actually said they enjoy watching the mouse struggle and die...

For everyone else who said they enjoyed watching the snake eat, I'm sorry it was assumed that it was meant like to watch the mouse suffer, and accused of such.

There is a natural curiosity when it comes to a snake hunting and eating. I've seen it in every child, and any person who just knew that they liked snakes but never have seen them eat. (and it isn't just the people in CT) The struggle of the rat probably isnt the favorite part for most, but it is part of it. We all know that, and it is neccessary for the snake to eat. Either that or it's the gas chamber...

If we weren't to some extent okay with the death, then we wouldn't have alive snakes. We don't have to like it, we just have to deal with it...which we all do.

From what I understand, when you are feeding live, it is good practice not to leave a rat or mouse in the tub without supervision. I stay and make sure my snake does not get hurt, and be there in case one of them gets it wrong and i have to pull teeth or claws out. (which thankfully has never happened.)

On that note, I sure wish i could get my newer adults on frozen! but that's a whole other post.

This is the most ridiculous thread I have ever read. It doesn't appear to be getting any smarter as I had hoped it would.

:( i thought it was pretty good... :( im sorry you've seemed to become upset, jamie.

Anyone who gets joy out of watching another animal suffer has issues. I feed my snakes every week because they have to eat to grow, thrive and breed. I don't do it for my personal excitement.

I think you are misunderstanding me, jamie. I do NOT enjoy watching the poor thing die. Do NOT :colbert: I had rats for pets for many years, and I've had my snakes for 5. I have just recently began to feed live rats because It took me that long to face the facts that it needed to be done. It breaks my heart, and I absolutely hate to do it. If i could get everyone on frozen, I would.

I will just speak for myself now, that when I watch my animals eat, it's 1.) to make sure that they do not get hurt by their food and 2.) to make sure they eat.
It's amazing how quick BP's strike, how strong they are, and that they can fit something 2ce the size of their neck into their mouth.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by adizziedoll

I think you are misunderstanding me, jamie. I do NOT enjoy watching the poor thing die. Do NOT :colbert: I had rats for pets for many years, and I've had my snakes for 5. I have just recently began to feed live rats because It took me that long to face the facts that it needed to be done. It breaks my heart, and I absolutely hate to do it. If i could get everyone on frozen, I would.

I will just speak for myself now, that when I watch my animals eat, it's 1.) to make sure that they do not get hurt by their food and 2.) to make sure they eat.
It's amazing how quick BP's strike, how strong they are, and that they can fit something 2ce the size of their neck into their mouth.

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My comments were more directed at the other two participants in the thread. Sorry if it came out wrong.

*wipes the sweat off her brow* phew so ill see ya at the expo then! LOL

Quote:

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Originally Posted by adizziedoll

*wipes the sweat off her brow* phew so ill see ya at the expo then! LOL

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Oh good..I thought we were going to have to rumble like West Side Story.. :fishslap:

I really hate the sounds made by the mice and rats when the snake gets them :(
The swallowing though, is really interesting. Also, I am more grossed out by the idea of frozen rodents than anything, which is why I feed live.

Hehehe thats hilarious, it just died?

I'm sure your ball still thought it tasted GREAT, and hey half the effort. Maybe now you can try to switch to F/T or pre killed

I simply take pleasure in the fact that my snakes are thriving. I don't take pleasure in the struggling mouse or the squeaks it makes. I simply know that in order for my scalekids to survive another animal can't. It may sound cold and heartless, but that's just how it is.

I don't think it's "cool." My neighbors saw OPhelia eat once and were so loud and excited. -Shrugs.-

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Melicious

I simply take pleasure in the fact that my snakes are thriving. I don't take pleasure in the struggling mouse or the squeaks it makes. I simply know that in order for my scalekids to survive another animal can't. It may sound cold and heartless, but that's just how it is.

I don't think it's "cool." My neighbors saw OPhelia eat once and were so loud and excited. -Shrugs.-

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I think people get excited because for a lot of people, a snake eating is something they've only ever seen on tv.

My BP feed live and I must say that I really look forward to feeding day,
not because I enjoy to see the suffering but more on seeing the whole process, hunt, constrict, swallow. it`s only what`s natural.
I appreciate p/k is best but it doesn`t work on every snake.
I don`t really understand how some people think it`s cruel to feed live.
At the end of the day, what`s the difference in us slaughtering cattle, chickens etc. and catching fish.

Don`t mean to irritate, just my opinion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheDoctor

My BP feed live and I must say that I really look forward to feeding day,
not because I enjoy to see the suffering but more on seeing the whole process, hunt, constrict, swallow. it`s only what`s natural.
I appreciate p/k is best but it doesn`t work on every snake.
I don`t really understand how some people think it`s cruel to feed live.
At the end of the day, what`s the difference in us slaughtering cattle, chickens etc. and catching fish.

Don`t mean to irritate, just my opinion.

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Wow, that's a pretty good post:) :sweeet:

I dont think anyone on this thread said that it is cruel to feed live.

In certain situations you must feed live in order for the snake to feed.
My Bluefields will not touch f/t (yet) and one of my import adult BP's will not touch f/t (just about gave up on trying to switch him-at least he takes stunned rats now).
I get no enjoyment from watching them "kill". I would rather they do what most of mine do. Take the food and just start swallowing. Some wrap, others just don't bother.
If the snake will take f/t then I see no reason why you need to feed live.
Like I said, I have some that feed live but only because they need to in order to eat. I would love the day that ALL of my animals took f/t.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheDoctor

I don`t really understand how some people think it`s cruel to feed live.

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I think you'll find that there are many of us here who are live feeders. Not because it's cool, but because some of us have better feeding responses with live, and we've not taken feeding live lightly and do so responsibly.

I do enjoy seeing my kids feed, but not because of the hunt or the kill, but because if they're eating - they're thriving in my care.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jglass38

My comments were more directed at the other two participants in the thread. Sorry if it came out wrong.

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Me?:confused:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JBallPython

Me?:confused:

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No...

Alright, thought you may have misread my post thinking I was sadistic.:oops:

no knowbody would think you were sadistic with that rabid blody bunny. hahahaha

fish

Wow, I must admit, I love feeding day, as do my friends. We await every friday like it was a favorite tv show. Every feeding day I have a four person crowd to watch my snake eat, not because the little mouse is 'suffering' (Constrictors kill pretty quickly and effectively, have you ever seen a cat kill a mouse? :hokitty: )

but because the snake is thriving, and that's the beauty of nature, the essence of the wild, right here for our own eyes to see, but remember, beauty is always cruel, and that's the law of the jungle. :groinkick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I do enjoy seeing my kids feed, but not because of the hunt or the kill, but because if they're eating - they're thriving in my care.

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EXACTLY! Hit it right on the head, Robin. O_o

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fish21

no knowbody would think you were sadistic with that rabid blody bunny. hahahaha

fish

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It's the Monty Python and the Holy Grail bunny. I love that movie.:P

bring out the holy hand granade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I liked watching my girl eat, aside from that fact that I am thrilled beyond belief that she is eating, b/c the amazing speed at which they can strike and their jaws amaze me. To see my girl reach out, snatch up the mouse, and coil around it almost faster than I can blink, to me, is absoulutly extrodinary. Snakes are brilliant creatures and to see them work to their finest degree is something I enjoy. She could be snatching up a piece of paper and I would find it just as amazing. It's not the fact that she is eating a live moush, it's how she works that I enjoy watching. And the fact that she eats at all is a wonderful thing to see. ^_^

I guess I must feed live wrong then because I don't see any of this "suffering" "slowly squeezing to death" "struggling" "noises" stuff (and I don't want to). Our snakes hit fast, hard, efficiently and there is little to no struggle or noises on feeding night coming out of the snake room. Usually just a series of thumps and very occasionally a small squeek or two. Personally I think if you're feeding an appropriate sized rodent to a snake that's quite able to deal with that rodent, it's a very efficient process as nature intended it to be.

I quite enjoy the snake's eating the rodents I raise. I find it satisfying that the snake's are healthy and growing and that the rodents I raise are of a high quality and providing all the nutrition our snakes require. Mucking all that up with human emotions seems intrusive to me....the snake certainly could care less how I feel, the rodent is simply filling it's place in the dynamic of predator and prey. As much as I enjoy the rats in our colony I know that my feelings mean very little to the feeding process and for me, that's how it should be.

My only role, as I see it, is to provide a good life for any living thing under my care and make sure I'm setting up live feedings that are done properly.

I greatly enjoy watching Max hunt his prey and make the kill, if i didnt, I wouldnt own a snake. I dont see how you can enjoy an animal if you enjoy the simple fact of how it eats, its part of nature and has to be done. Don't see why those of us that enjoy watching them kill their food makes us sick and disgusted...