Posted by:
Darin Chappell
at Fri Jan 5 15:42:21 2007 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Darin Chappell ]
Well, that's why you shouldn't house non-feeders together, and why you certainly shouldn't feed them together.
I have seen some cases of cannibalism over the years, but it almost always occurs during either 1) Feeding errors (one snake smells like "mouse" to the other snake while they are together), or 2) cohabitation of problem feeders.
It is my postulation that problem feeders are not really "non-feeders" at all, but rather we just haven't exposed them to what they are programmed to eat. In the wild, several clutches of babies all wanting the same thing might quickly deplete the food source for them all in a given area. However, if some of them are hard-wired for mice, some for anoles, some for earthworms, and some for Peruvian bat pinks (lol), then they can find food without depriving their siblings from eating as well.
However, if those other alternatives are not available, then, as a last resort at survival, these picky eaters turn on what is available to them...each other. ----- Darin Chappell
Hillbilly Herps
PO Box 254
Rogersville, MO 65742
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