Any other pets? (1,074 views)

[Bluekeet]

Apr 28, 2016 10:35:32 GMT -8 Haimovfids said:

Omg!! So cuuute! I want a snake in the future. I like the green tree pythons, costal carpet, and champagnes.

I have a feeling you'll get one (or a couple) in the future. Kind of a vibe a guess. You should. You're missing out on the fun.

[Bluekeet]

Apr 28, 2016 10:37:17 GMT -8 Haimovfids said:

Also, do you feed your snakes live, or frozen? The only problem I think I'll have with snakes is feeding them rats. I think I'll get over it with exposure. I prefer feeding them live than frozen just because it's more natural, but I'm not against anyone feeding frozen.

Currently, I feed live, and I monitor it very closely (make sure her strike was good, going headfirst etc. etc.). I would prefer to feed her f/t, but since I'm still living with my parents they don't want frozen rats in the refrigerator.

And not all snakes eat rats. Most start with mice. Some eat even eat eggs and fish, but mostly it's rodents. It really does get easier. It's just exposure and experience.

[Haimovfids]

Thanks! I know all snakes don't eat rats, but the ones I like eat rats.

[deebee]

Apr 28, 2016 10:37:17 GMT -8 Haimovfids said:

Also, do you feed your snakes live, or frozen? The only problem I think I'll have with snakes is feeding them rats. I think I'll get over it with exposure. I prefer feeding them live than frozen just because it's more natural, but I'm not against anyone feeding frozen.

I only feed frozen. Live feeding (in my own honest opinion) is cruel, unnecessary and can leave a snake injured or dead if it doesn't eat the animal. It's not worth it. The only time I think I would ever ever consider it would be in a life or death situation for a snake that cannot eat frozen and is at risk of starving because of it. Just my thoughts!


If you want a snake then I would go for a champagne royal python. Green tree pythons are a look but don't touch snake. Some can be handled but most are defensive. While my coastal carpet is nice, a lot of carpet pythons can be nippy. I am comfortable reading Clyde's behaviour but should he bite me it would very much so hurt. My boa bit me and it was like a punch to the chest. I felt winded. It was so sharp that I didn't notice I was profusely bleeding haha! Royals make good first time snakes if you want something that's a little bit more chunky and slow than say a corn snake and what not BUT they can be tricky to get feeding. Get a well established snake if you do  

[Bluekeet]

Nah, I agree. I'm definitely converting her at the earliest time I can, but for now, I treat my feeders as humanely as possible and monitor the whole thing. But I agree, I don't particularly care for feeding live, but it's what I got for now.

[Haimovfids]

I agree, Daisy. I have a hard time watching live rats get eaten. Although I do prefer it live, I think I'll feed them frozen just because I feel bad for the mice/rats. It should be the same, right? Which is healthier, live, or frozen? Is there even a health difference? I'm new to the whole snake world. Also, I can understand how you feel when something you love, hurts you. I think I'll go with a champagne as a first snake. I've heard GTP have a high feeding response, so I don't think it's a right match for a beginner.

[Bluekeet]

Pretty much, yes. Live rodents can scratch and bite the snake if the snake aims incorrectly, or even when they have a good strike, there's still the possibility of injury. F/t is definitely safer for both parties. I've been bitten a fair number of times, so bites aren't all that big of a concern for me, but for a beginner or to someone who doesn't have as much experience, a GTP or big guy isn't the greatest go-to.

[deebee]

May 2, 2016 10:57:10 GMT -8 Bluekeet said:

Nah, I agree. I'm definitely converting her at the earliest time I can, but for now, I treat my feeders as humanely as possible and monitor the whole thing. But I agree, I don't particularly care for feeding live, but it's what I got for now.

Please don't think I was referring to you! Just going off personal experiences and with others that I've spoken to. I've not fed live but I have had snakes that I almost considered giving live to. I think your situation is hard because you can't put anything frozen in with your own/your parents food and I can't imagine them letting you get a big freezer when you don't have many snakes. I have a freezer bigger than myself because of my birds of prey and reptiles all needing frozen food and I buy in bulk from a farm that delivers frozen stuff to the door. I spend about £100 twice a year, really not expensive considering all the mouths to be fed! 

[deebee]

May 2, 2016 11:32:48 GMT -8 Haimovfids said:

I agree, Daisy. I have a hard time watching live rats get eaten. Although I do prefer it live, I think I'll feed them frozen just because I feel bad for the mice/rats. It should be the same, right? Which is healthier, live, or frozen? Is there even a health difference? I'm new to the whole snake world. Also, I can understand how you feel when something you love, hurts you. I think I'll go with a champagne as a first snake. I've heard GTP have a high feeding response, so I don't think it's a right match for a beginner.

I don't have a hard time watching it, I just think it's unfair because it's still not natural. Let's be honest, the rodent doesn't really have a chance if it's in the enclosure with the snake. There's no fairness. It's like with falconry birds and people I know, some have like released pigeons/pheasants etc. that they let go for the bird so they can learn how to get them but to me that's an unfair advantage... I dunno. It's hard to explain it haha. That's not the main issue though, as stated above, the prey animal can sometimes do more damage than the snake can. I won't put any gory videos or photos up, but I've seen snakes chewed almost right through by a rat... It's quite sad really. I don't feel it's worth the risk 

I would say that frozen food wouldn't have the same nutrients, but it would be close. It's like freezing/cooking parrot food really. Same goes for human food. The goodness is still there but not 100%. I supplement my snakes with a multivitamin and calcium powder too 

I'm not overly bothered about being bitten. Snakes live to eat and eat to live. They don't do a fat lot else. As humans we natural think that everything has human emotion, feelings even. While we may feel for our snakes, they don't care about us. They merely tolerate us. The closest I would get to animals having these emotions would be hand raised parrots and dogs. All animals can feel but I think that we have to draw the line with reptiles where emotion is concerned. If I get bit, it's my fault. The snake doesn't bite to be nasty or because it's annoyed. No snake is truly mean either. They're defensive. Snakes are far from domestication and probably the only thing remotely close would be the royal/ball python due to the numbers being bred in all different colour morphs. It's a bit like the budgie. It's probably the closest thing we will ever have to a domesticated parrot haha. If your snake bites you, never take it personally. Green tree pythons are notoriously nippy. Now you should have a look at the Emerald tree boa. Similar looking species, not related obviously. But look at the teeth on that thing. My friend works in a reptile store as well as having his own collection and he said an ETB is the only thing to make him cry. He's 6ft odd and training to be a strong man haha! 

[Bluekeet]

Daisy, I love you man. I tell that exact thing to people all the time. It's great to hear that others are on the same page.