It was not as difficult as I thought it would be - Snake Feeding.

[ranapipiens89]

nah, you aren't a sociopath, but sometimes I think if I admit that I like to feed my turtle minnows or my little mantis buddy his moths and flies that people will think i'm some kind of sicko, I just thought I would add it on here too, I forget that everyone on here LIKES snakes, where I'm from, almost noone does. And I just thought that since she was so young it wasn't good for her to go without.

[CoolioTiffany]

nah, you aren't a sociopath, but sometimes I think if I admit that I like to feed my turtle minnows or my little mantis buddy his moths and flies that people will think i'm some kind of sicko, I just thought I would add it on here too, I forget that everyone on here LIKES snakes, where I'm from, almost noone does. And I just thought that since she was so young it wasn't good for her to go without.

Yeah I have a few family members who hate snakes, so if I told them I would feed my boa live rats they would be like "What????". I don't even see why there is a reason for people to hate snakes, they actually do so much good by keeping the rodent population stabilized. I can't seem to get through to those family members about snakes though, they don't listen.

Though, when I feed live I think it's really interesting. I like to see how my boa would ambush it, then full on attack it. I just found that pretty interesting. If I told people at my school I like watching rodents get killed by my boa people would think I'm psycho lol. People around where I live seem so weird about snakes, like they think snakes will kill them if they touch it.

[ranapipiens89]

That's just about the way it is here too, everyone makes the creeped out noise and scoots FAR out of the way, lol, it's funny, but kind of sad, haha.

[Patricia]

I watched her kill and eat it and I didn't feel NEARLY as upset about watching it as I could have sworn I would... I don't like seeing little critters get killed, but It didn't bring me bursting to tears like I feared it might. (I have owned pet mice before, that was why I was worried).

I've had hamsters, rats, and currently a guinea pig, all much beloved pets. What you posted is exactly why I feed F/T and why I didn't even get a snake for 30 years until recently discovering that they can be fed F/T. I remember your earlier thread about the feeding dilemma. Congrats on getting over that difficult barrier. I'd probably be a teary-eyed mess who'd have to leave the house while there was a live critter running around our BP's tank.

[rabernet]

It's not good for hatchlings to go for months without eating, so it was a good choice to go ahead and feed it live.

I've fed over 5000 live prey items, and I still feel badly for the rats and mice that get fed off. It gets easier, but for those of us that love all animals, it's never a pleasant part of keeping ball pythons. I'm thrilled after my babies all have full bellies though.

[Patricia]

but for those of us that love all animals, it's never a pleasant part of keeping ball pythons.

Yes, that's exactly it in my case: I love all animals. Everything but cockroaches and mosquitoes, LOL! But seriously, I'm the one picking up a lost earthworm and putting it back in a moist grassy patch rather than have anyone step on it. Snails, slugs, ladybugs... all critters. And when it comes to cute mammals that recognize and interact with us -- rats being THE BEST pet rodent I've had the pleasure of owning -- well...

Thanks for your post.

[ranapipiens89]

Thanks everyone for replying, I just felt a little proud of myself, I am a giant animal lover and still love little mice and rats, would actually adopt some rats as pets, but they won't even consider it since I have my snake, I guess they also assume anyone with a snake is a heartless monster that tosses rat upon rat to their doom without even a side thought about it..... But it's all cool, I have my baby snakey and I have her healthy and eating, and that's all I could ask for for now.

[mainbutter]

Does that make me a psychopath if I enjoy watching my snake eat a live rodent?

It depends on the reasons behind it.

If you get a kick out of pain and death, yeah maybe a little.

If you get a kick out of a successful hunt, enjoy seeing nature doing its thing, I think that's perfectly normal.

Also if you get a kick out of your snake performing as it is supposed to, that's good too. I have to imagine its the same for people who go hawking, and set their hawk on prey.

[Elise.m]

I think I will always feel a little bad about feeding off rodents. Although I don't like mice and rats as much as other people here, I don't like that they have to go through the pain, and when one goes quick I always breathe a sigh of relief.

I only have one friend that doesn't like me talking about my snake and when I have to feed her. Which is funny, cuz she used to have a cornsnake that she fed live herself. She thinks snakes are gross and she doesn't like it when the rodents squeal. One thing she doesn't understand (And probly never will) is that this is my pet, it's an animal I have taken under my care and I will not let it go hungry. If I do convert to f/t one day great, but I will only do it if my snakes are getting hurt or if it's more convenient for the both of us.