Shaving mouse?

[Thepythonman12]

Ok im a new owner and i read before that mice/rat fur can literally build up in there digestive track over time and cause serious problems.But i really do not see my self shaving a mouse its kind of like animal cruelty and im not with that.But thanks there will be no shaving.But if any one has anygood sites where i can buy some hairless rodents or any stores in the Long Island area that sells them?Please let me know.

That's one of the dumbest things I think I've ever heard...well...herp related anyway...

'Ouch!

[mainbutter]

I've often considered rodent hair in rodent-eating pythons' diets to be equivalent to fiber in our diets.

Don't shave your mice.

^
should be a new slogan

[shescountry89]

Do snakes shave their mice out in the wild? I don't think so. Like Deb said, if they can digest teeth and bones perfectly fine then hair is no problem what so ever. Your definatly making it WAY more difficult for yourself.

[Thepythonman12]

In this situation you really cannot use wild snakes as an example,thats like asking and saying do snakes in the wild get rid of scale rot with Neosporin and a dry enclosure exxcc ,No so do not do anything with scale rot (get what i am saying). The ball pythons in the wild do not live aslong as the ones in captivity and thats because of proper husbandry so just because they do it and die in the wild does not mean you should not investigate and go head in towards any potential danger when it comes to your snake.

[Jay_Bunny]

Fur in a snake's diet acts as fiber like in our diets. It helps move things through the digestive tract and helps keep it clean and working properly. Snakes eat furry animals throughout their entire lives and I'm pretty sure there has NEVER been a single case of snakes becoming impacted with fur from their food.

[Jay_Bunny]

There are people here who have been keeping snakes for years. Possibly several decades, and they have never had a snake become impacted with fur. When I clean poop out of my snake's enclosure I see fur in the feces. There is a reason for the fur. Just like we need fiber in our diets to help keep our digestive tracts in working order (we don't live in the wild) so do our snakes. Only difference is, they can't eat broccoli so their digestive systems utilize the fur of the rodents to do the job.

[Boanerges]

You are the only person I know of with this concern and you seem to be fighting for why your idea is correct which leads me to believe there is a good chance you are going to do what you think is right regardless of what everyone else says. I am going to say what I think anyway but it does not seem like it will make a difference. I understand the concern for your snakes saftey but trust me it will be quite fine eating mice with the hair still on it. If you want to look at it from a captive bred point of veiw (I will give one example), there are people who own single snakes worth $25,000 and up and they do not feed their snakes hairless mice or shave them down as far as I know. If hair caused that much of a concern they would be using hairless feeders themselves (or shaving) to protect their pets/investment. Anyways, good luck with whatever you decide to do

[marwari31]

In a non herp related way, I have shaved a mouse before and it is really difficult. We had to do it for my Small Animal Laboratory Science class and they were under anesthesia. I could not imagine doing it to an awake mouse that will freak out at the sound and feel of clippers...

[purplemuffin]

The only time I've ever heard of fur causing problems is either when the snake eats it backwards and regurges, or someone my vet knew who was feeding a large snake multiple mice per feeding and feeding every other day! But he just had buildup in general!

[Moofins07]

I've often considered rodent hair in rodent-eating pythons' diets to be equivalent to fiber in our diets.

Don't shave your mice.

^
should be a new slogan

This made me giggle for about five minutes.

But in all seriousness, no, shaving is not necessary. Several far more reputable people than me have already established that - just didn't want to be a thread stealer.