wow...

[TanyaL]

I think I would have told them that they are welcome to buy and save as many as they would like. No worries on buying them out because you can just breed more! LOL ID10T!

[NightLad]

How utterly annoying. When asked what my snake eats by people who I know are just looking for an excuse to make a value-judgment or an 'icky' face, I quickly, yet smoooothly, follow-up with; are you a vegetarian? That generally puts them in their place. Interestingly enough the people I've had the least amount of issues with are vegetarians/vegans themselves. They seem to have a firmer grasp (generally speaking) on the food-chain and our place in it than those who wrinkle their nose at a snake eating a mouse (yet who probably use mouse-traps at home) and live on McDonalds, while hugging their dogs and thinking they are superior to us evil snake-folk.

Making comparisons helps a lot when explaining this topic to non-snake folk. For example, "what do you feed them?" reply; frozen mice. They come pre-killed in packages, like frozen hotdogs. At that point they are just meat with the coat still on.

[ViciousBliss]

What gets me about these people is that they are probably sitting in front of their computer eating a burger while they type. The only people that have a right to make that argument are vegans. Vegans are a different breed and I've learned not to go down that road but at least they practice what they preach.

i have an extensive amount of experience with vegans. one of my very good friends is a vegan and has been for as long as i've known her.


that aside.


what does a vegan feed a ball python? i don't think Snikolas would appreciate Tofu Rats and lettuce...

[Argentra]

Sigh...typical.

For one, most vegans and veggies wouldn't own a carnivorous pet like a snake..they have dogs they try to get to eat veggies like them. There are plenty of great minded, great natured vegans out there...but they are outdone by all the idiots.

When I don't have enough rodents, or the right sizes, here in my colony, I have to go to my local herp store...which is a BUS ride away. To transport live mice, I use small critter keeper boxes which are clear. It always happens that someone will ask what those mice are for... The bus drivers know me well and the ones that are bothered by it make sure I know their route schedules.

There will ALWAYS be those out there who piss-n-moan about us being 'cruel' to those dear little mice... those are the ones who are stubborn as heck, usually deeply religious, and don't understand nature and NEVER will.

[TheKingInYellow]

I'm a vegetarian, and while my first snake is not home with us yet, it (they likely) will be strictly be fed mice and rats.

I can differentiate between a conscious, ethically-guided omnivore like myself who can, and chooses to, live without meat, and a carnivore that has no choice in the matter. I have other pets that require meat foods, and they are all fed whatever is necessary to make them healthy.

Most veggies are pretty rational people. It's the PETA crowd that makes everyone think we are insane.

[aaramire]

I actually have a friend who has been a vegetarian from when he was a child, he has a ball python and scorpions. He doesnt have a problem feeding his animals what they need to be fed, he feeds f/t though because where he lives in the UK its illegal to feed live.

[TheKingInYellow]

For one, most vegans and veggies wouldn't own a carnivorous pet like a snake..they have dogs they try to get to eat veggies like them. There are plenty of great minded, great natured vegans out there...but they are outdone by all the idiots.

I think you are over-generalizing here. I hove lots of veggie friends too, and most of us are of the same mind I am. If they have dogs, they are on healthy mixed-protein (including meat) diets.

We love our animals and want them to be healthy. My house has two rabbits, a parrot, dozens of fish, our JCP is coming this week and I think I will be adding a second snake at a breeder expo next weekend. We also foster animals for the local humane society (pregnant Chinchilla and a Pregnant Guinea Pig at the moment). The fish and parrot both eat foods that are meat-derived. The snakes will be on a strictly carnivore diet.

[Sonya610]

as much as i love cats and dogs it wouldnt be bad to freeze and feed the strays that are being put to sleep.

Thor that happens, some shelters send the bodies to rendering plants. Very cheap dog food often contains "bone meal" and yes that can mean dogs and cats killed at shelters, very sick livestock that was rejected for human use, road kill, pretty much anything.

[Sonya610]

On the subject of vegetarians, my sister and her family are very strict vegetarians (its a religious thing) and they don't even want to touch meat products.

They took in a stray neighborhood cat, and while they are trying to find the cat a home (it has back problems, long story) they are feeding it an "organic vegetarian cat food".

I told her cats are carnivores and that really scares me, the cat could go blind from lack of proper nutrients. She told me there is a website where this guy has been feeding his cat this stuff for 20 years (I don't believe it, and I am not at all convinced this "guys" cats are not sneaking out and hunting when they get the chance).

Though on the upside this cat of theirs occasionally leaves "presents" for them at the door, much to the horror of her husband. So I guess if kitty was starving for meat she would eat those presents and not give them away.

[Argentra]

Sorry for the generalization...I've just been PO'ed by too many veggies and vegans in the past. I am very glad to hear that the sane, intelligent, well informed veggies are taking over and doing things right for their animals...no matter what type they may have.