Posted by:
LdyPayne
at Wed Jan 21 15:18:23 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by LdyPayne ]
Reptiles have always been cast in a bad light by most western civilizations and the average person can't understand why somebody would want a snake or lizard as a pet. They quote things like you can't take it for a walk or cuddy up with it in bed yet these same people would be happy if you had pet fish. You certainly can't take fish for a walk (well unless you have it attached to fishing line) or cuddle in bed with it.
Mice and rats are on the bottom of the food chain, everything that eats meat will eat mice or rats if the opportunity presents itself. I have mice as pets and as breeders for my snake. I have no qualms about killing mice to food to a snake or any other animal. Heck, sometimes I will toss in a mouse for my rats to eat.
My recommendation to petstores who don't carry frozen mice/rats for feeding to reptiles or who don't sell reptiles at all, don't tell them why you want 3 female mice and a male. Or better yet, watch the newspaper classifieds for somebody giving away their pet mice. Again, don't tell them you plan on feeding them to a snake...actually, if you plan to breed them then feed off the offspring you can honestly say you do not plan to feed their mice to a reptile.
If somebody complains about you feeding mice or rats to your reptile, ask them if they like chicken or eggs. Most would say they do to both, then tell them your snake just likes mice better than chicken.
Small animal breeders/keepers/lovers are starting to understand it is necessary for small mammals to be food for other people's pets but some are dead set against it. Most people don't realize there is a reason why mice breed so much and have large litters, it's because they are prey for so many different predatorial animals.
The only real thing you can do is explain you do your best to ensure your breeder mice and rats are fed as well as possible, are happy and content with the lives you provide them. Also you humanely euthenize them when time to feed your snake.
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RE: Why am I Evil??? - LdyPayne, Wed Jan 21 15:18:23 2004