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Feeding Live Birds to Ball Pythons

Feeding Live Birds To Snakes

  • Yes

    Votes: 4 8.2%

  • No

    Votes: 42 85.7%

  • Do it and let me know how it turns out.

    Votes: 3 6.1%
  • Total voters
    49
StrictlyExotics said:
I wish a picture was worth a 1000 words in this case. You need to see how a "little" bird deformed my pinky. Now, a my pinky is smaller than your balls, not by much, but a lot stronger. My range of motion is gone, permanently bent. Just think what happens if that lil 15.00 feeder get ahold of your ball. Its gone man.

Ive seen firsthand what bad feeding does to a snake. Ever see a lil mouse actually EAT a boa? think it doesnt exist. You have the world of the internet at your fingertips. I suggest you use them before attacking the people with experience.
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I have seen what leaving live food in a tank to long can do. I dont leave my mice/rats in the cage unattended. If its not eaten whithin fifteen minutes (while im setting right there, love to watch them strike and strangle. wouldnt miss that ever!) Then i take out the prey and try latter. I have done allot of reading about snakes: to do's and not to do's. I know that mice/rats will start nipping away and yes ive seen the nasty pics. Once again thats why i posted his thread. Attacking Im not "attacking" anyone, try defending myself.
Im not incompetent or I would have done it anyway then told everyone about it.
 
[email protected] said:
I have seen what leaving live food in a tank to long can do. I dont leave my mice/rats in the cage unattended. If its not eaten whithin fifteen minutes (while im setting right there, love to watch them strike and strangle. wouldnt miss that ever!) Then i take out the prey and try latter. I have done allot of reading about snakes: to do's and not to do's. I know that mice/rats will start nipping away and yes ive seen the nasty pics. Once again thats why i posted his thread. Attacking Im not "attacking" anyone, try defending myself.
Im not incompetent or I would have done it anyway then told everyone about it.
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By the looks and sounds of it, you will anyhow;)
 
Riyo said:
I don't think the BP would even recognize it as food....

And to satisfy your own sadistic pleasure? Find a different hobby..

Regardless, I don't think it's the best idea in the world.
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Ok so I'm one of those who voted do it and let me know how it works out. I dont get why feeding a bird to a snake is any worse than feeding a rodent to a snake, if the snake would naturally eat birds in the wild. After all to say feeding it one species is more sadistic than feeding it another species is pretty much a subjective judgment call that we each make for ourselves. If the snake would then no longer feed on rodents, well thats the owner's problem to work out and a theoretical one at that. If it was unhealthy for the snake, or the feeder was a rare species or someone's beloved pet, thats a different story.
 
bigjej said:
Ok so I'm one of those who voted do it and let me know how it works out. I dont get why feeding a bird to a snake is any worse than feeding a rodent to a snake, if the snake would naturally eat birds in the wild. After all to say feeding it one species is more sadistic than feeding it another species is pretty much a subjective judgment call that we each make for ourselves. If the snake would then no longer feed on rodents, well thats the owner's problem to work out and a theoretical one at that. If it was unhealthy for the snake, or the feeder was a rare species or someone's beloved pet, thats a different story.
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No one said feeding a bird was sadistic. Its his attitude about it all that makes it sadistic. He wants to sit back and watch the kill. Its not about the nutritional value of the bird or the safety of the snake thats the concern here. As far as I knew, ball python dont naturally eat birds int he wild, they are rodent hunters. If it was an ETB, GTP, ATB, et al.. I am sure people would have a different POV, especially if it were a frozen bird.
 
I know of 2 people that ignored my advice to feed their snakes dead prey. They were both on f/t when they received them. One is a spider with a terrible gash behind his eye down his neck. It is healing, it will be a terrible scar and the snake is feeding again.

The other is a beautiful pastel that has a bite in the neck area that goes completely into the esophagus. The snake has since contracted an RI and stomatitus. Owner is hometreating and it appears to be getting better, but snake refuses to eat. I can't remember if this snake has been bred, but I fear the stress of producing eggs and breeding just may push her over the edge.

Finding joy or pleasure in the death of another being is upsetting to me.
 
bigjej said:
Ok so I'm one of those who voted do it and let me know how it works out. I dont get why feeding a bird to a snake is any worse than feeding a rodent to a snake, if the snake would naturally eat birds in the wild. After all to say feeding it one species is more sadistic than feeding it another species is pretty much a subjective judgment call that we each make for ourselves. If the snake would then no longer feed on rodents, well thats the owner's problem to work out and a theoretical one at that. If it was unhealthy for the snake, or the feeder was a rare species or someone's beloved pet, thats a different story.
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Hi :p

HE was the one that said it was for "Sadistic Pleasure", not me. I was quoting him.

A parakeet's life is of no more value than a rat..they are both living, breathing, feeling animals. Part of owning snakes is to take care of their needs and feeding them accordingly. I am not against live, but there are risks involved like with anything...

Now with a parakeet, something a terrestrial snake is not really equipped to eat, a lot of damage can be done to the snake. A lot more than a rat could do, in my opinion. The snake doesn't NEED to eat the parakeet, so why take the extra (and likely) risk?

Doing it just so you can get your jollies off is not smart or responsible.
 
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Python_regius.html
Food Habits
Royal pythons eat rodents almost exclusively. They feed primarily on several species of native African rodents, including rats, gerbils, and gerboas. Royal pythons generally do not eat during the times of the year when night temperatures drop to the low 70's or lower.
_______________________________________________________
That is the only legitamate reason I can see for not feeding the python a parakeet and it satisfies me ( for what thats worth ). As for the parakeet hurting the snake, I've owned rats and 'keets and believe me though the keets can pack a mean bite if they catch the right spot ( the webbing between my thumb and pointer for instance ) they dont compare to an adult rat's chompers.
 
I dont care about a rat, mouse, or birds life. I care about my snakes. I am taking care of a snake. I feed it what it needs to survive. F/T food items were once living 2. Im sure u dont think their lives were less valuable than the living critter I feed my snake??? (Yes yes killed in a humane way... blah, blah, ...) That being said, I was just curious if it was an ok idea to feed birds. True there is a difference between a peck and a bite, but I also dont leave my snake unattended as she eats. I also want to bring the fact into light, that BP usually do only eat rodents. Though im sure given the chance they wouldnt hesitate to take out a loud bird that happend to be rummaging around on the ground. I dont know how you other live feeding keepers are (If there even are any on this website), but I do take a risk and intervene when a mouse is gettin a little frisky with its back feet. I know thats dumb and in light of all the conversation here, I am going to start the prosses of switching to F/T.
 
Thx. hopefully things will run smoothly. Gaia has only refused food a couple times. But once i got done with my 80 gallon HM terrarium, and got her out of that 10 gallon tank, she has LOVED IT! No feeding problems what so ever. I have to say it has been allot of fun watching her stalk her pray in this big tank. But all in all it is about her safety, i would be very upset if she got hurt. Not to mention emabarrassed as hell to tell you bullies about it. LOL!
picture.php

NICE EH?
 
maddseasonmorphs said:
He must be a young gun. after checking out his user file, you will notice things like:

Signature
I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me... So getting mad at a kid will get us no were.

To answer your question though. I would not feed my balls birds nor would I suggest you do so. Birds have bugs on them if I am correct. and mabe just mabe that might not be so good for your snake. If you love your snake and want to give him a happy b-day. hook him up with a bigger enclosure, mabey take some Sexy pics of him:rofl:, Mabe even just give him 2 rats instead of one. Then sing to him.:dgrin:

All in all -- bird probly not such a good idea:NoNo:
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BTW im 22.
 
Well today is the day. Unfortunately the no's have it. But with all the opinions that were posted, I probly would have ended up not doing it in the end any way. Looks like its gonna be the same old mice. Thx for the imput guys/gals, and I assure you im not gonna just do it any way. SO CHEERS HAPPY ST. PATTIES DAY!!!
 
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