Rescue needed

[abuja]

I went to the store where I get my feeder mice and I took a look at their snakes, as usual. Inside a 10 gallon cage, with an overturned hide, a bp about 18 inches looked like a skeleton with pieces of skin clinging to his body. He moved quickly and jerkily around his cage, and I fear he is at death's door. I want to rescue him so dearly, but, alas, I live at home with my mother and she would not want a second bp. If anyone, anyone at all, rescues snakes often, this one is in need of it, and soon. The store is Exotic Pets, Asheville, NC. This is most likely a cry for help that will remain unanswered, so will probably be remembered as a hopeless rant. I say this: Never will I purchase anything from their store again. As soon as I am old enough for a work permit, I promise I will get a job there and nurture all of their snakes and other reptiles alike, back to health.

This is unrelated to the paragraph above, but another rant. They didn't have any appropriately sized feeder mice, but had a fancy mouse for sale at the same price that was of proper size. I pride myself on my lack of feelings for the mice on feeding day, but today, ladies and gentlemen, I cried for the first time. The mouse could have lived. Could have been a beloved pet. Instead, he was suffocated and eaten. I can't deny that this has scarred me. I want my snake's happiness, but that fancy mouse would have been a pet for several years, but was heartless killed and eaten instead. I need some consolation that any of you would have done the same. If you wouldn't have purchased that fancy mouse, do say so, for I will always have a tender spot in my heart for that little girl mouse that passed today.

[stratus_020202]

Yes, we have all seen the damage a pet store can do to a baby bp. If only we could save them all. But most of us have at least saved one And that should give us hope.

I'm sorry about the little mouse too. It can be hard, but it's really not any different than us eating a cheeseburger. They die a lot quicker than we think. Its like falling asleep i think. Most of the moving we see after could be just nerves.

The balls have to eat, and most likely if you didn't buy it as food someone else would have. You could always build a little gas chamber if the strangle bothers you. It will come in handy when your bp is eating rats. Trust me feeding live rats is noisy, and it gets a little disturbing.

[wolfy-hound]

If the store would give up the ball python without someone paying for it, it would be good for the poor python. Hopefully no one will give them money, since that will only encourage them to buy more babys to starve as well.

No, sorry. If I have a rodent for a feeder, it's a feeder. Same as when I had chickens, or goats that were destined for food. I feel the same no matter if it's a white rat, a hooded rat, a beautiful blue rat. I don't enjoy that they die, but I don't get all weepy or attached to them, anymore than I get attached to the goats I see, or the cows I pass in their pastures. If it really bothers you that much to feed off a rodent, you might want to train your snake to F/T and buy your feeders in bulk to keep frozen. Just don't think about how they too were live creatures before they were euthanized to be used as food.

I hope things get better. If there is a local humane society or animal control, you could call them and ask if they can drop in to see how badly the store is keeping the baby python. Perhaps that would help.

[TheOtherLeadingBrand]

Ouch, I know a lot of people there, but none who'd want a snake. Would your mom let you take it in and rehome it? I hope someone can help the poor little guy.

I understand that you feel badly about the mouse, but a feeder mouse and a pet mouse are still the same creature. It's just the way it goes.

[Kaorte]

If feeding live makes you upset, you could try f/t. I find it a lot easy when I don't have to see the living breathing creature.

As for the bp in the store, sadly this happens all to often. Not all of them can be saved and sent to loving homes.

[dc4teg]

its the circle of life its hard to say but it is

[Raptor]

:/ Poor thing. If I lived near by, I'd snag it. I'm just happy the pet store I frequent takes excellent care of their snakes.