Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wondering. When doing a reptile presentation, whether for kids, adults, or mixed, would you feed a snake during the presentation?

Thanks,
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Lead us not into temptation. We can find it on our own.

i'd say no. the animal will already be stressed from being in a foreign environment. you could always tape one of your animals feeding and then show the tape in your presentation. thats my 2 cents.

np
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Kyle
www.royalvariations.com

"be safe, be happy and dont let anyone make you afraid" David Coverdale

A) snake could regurge due to stress (not at home, gonna have to move, be jostled, to get home)

B) Golden Rule: PEOPLE ARE DUMB. They will assume the worst, tell gory stories, and generally not understand. Darwin ate a rat in my friend's car once (it was an accident, believe it or not) and my friend(s) STILL jokingly ask me if I'm going to feed them (the people) to the snake. Whaaa?

~jenny
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1.4 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, Periscope, and dah bebbies)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 mice (Cute Girl Mousy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
0.0.5 tropical fish (tetras and a neon blue gourami)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
0.0.1 chupacabra (it ate our chickens)

jenny.thegreenes.org

I did one time. I fed a Ball Python in front of a class of gifted 6th graders. This was 27 years ago. Man am I getting old.(47) I never did it again. It went well but that was not what I was trying to teach them. I wanted them to see that snakes are not something to be afraid of. To better understand the differences between reptiles and mammals. There was not the TV channels that the kids have available today. They were easier to impress. The younger the kids, the more fun I had. Teenagers were the worst; too much trying to look cool and impress each other.
Snakes are animals too T shirt
Photos taken from our company newsletter 1981. Add grey hair and 50 Lbs and thats me
Trying to be a tree

Cool pics.. You were a cute kid..

My wife thinks so. I'll take that any day. Claude

Sent you an email.

Didnt get one.. My email is melinda.s@telco1.net

with the rest. You always introduce people to the aspects of something unfamiliar that raise mortality salience (ie, fear of death) AFTER they have become familiar with the warm fuzzy aspects. Otherwise they'll never take to that something, in this case snakes. Big "mean" scaly thing devours small "cute" furry thing = "Snakes are bad". Kids always think predators are the bad guys.
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"Can't you just feed it vegetables"? No, no I can't you stupid hippie.

Yes, I feed a snake or two at EVERY presentation.
Rather, I should say that one or more of those students in attendance actually do the feeding.

I have been doing these reptile presentations for more than 15 yrs for our local school district...from College Level to Kindergarten. We ARE supposed to educate them.
It is not gross, wierd or cruel to either the snake or the mouse. It is the cycle of captive life. And I am selective about what species I use to demonstrate feeding behaviors.

Now, of course, I supervise the situation...and the Kindergartener's are a little young...So, I do the feeding in that case.

It provides a great opportunity to talk about the tools herpetologists use, proper care & caging, diet, metabolism and the physiology of injesting a large meal.

So, for one day the child (or an adult) gets to be our "Guest Herpetologist". They get to use "Snake Gloves"...(really more for show than anything else)...they select from a vast array of tools commonly used, (15 inch forceps, Hemostats, Snake Tubes, Snake Hooks, Grab Sticks and so on..)
I explain what each tool is used for and why today we will be selecting the long forceps.
Our volunteer dons the gloves with forceps in hand....I present a small bag of thawed rodents...I select the proper size "treat". I explain WHY we offer thawed rodents ....then I place it in the forceps.

I ususally bring a few snakes that are VERY used to the routine...something simple yet showy, like a Blizzard Corn.
(I really think the snakes seem more excited that stressed.)

I explain to the crowd that our "guest herpetologist" told me how to do this correctly...and I "repeat" what the herpetologist taught me earlier...LOL from everyone in the room.
"She said, to present the head of the thawed mouse to the nose of the snake...allow the snake to stick out it's tongue...(we talk about the Jacobsons's Organ.)
I say that once the snake has bitten the prey item that she will let go with the forceps.
The whole time, this little "herpetologist" (along with everyone in the room) is getting an education that they will always remember.
I place the snake - constricting a mouse, back into a shatter proof container... seal the lid... And we pass it from one student to the next, so that everyone can see how it all works.
A corn snake is not a very shy species when it comes to feeding.
They are not easily stressed. I will often feed a corn twice at one presentation!
(Ball Pythons can be shy and might not be a good choice for this...although, I have a few that would likely be fine with it, I would rather use a corn snake)
I have even used c.b. Green Tree Pythons! They are ALWAYS READY!
This is biology at it's best. People are curious about it.
They want to see it. Why not? It certainly gives me their attention and allows me to cover the subject in more depth.
It also sparks some wonderful questions from those in attendance.
Aside from the benefit to people, I make sure that I cycle the snakes being displayed....so that they can have a "rest" while another snake is "on duty".
In all the years I have done these classes, I have never had a single complaint or problem. (I have even taught several church groups and one time I did a class for a bunch of Vegans!)
Kids and Adults are smart enough to understand that this is the diet of a snake...why beat around the bush?
Educate them.
I have 4 more to teach again this week!
By the way, Great poll jdillow!
Harlin Wall - WALL TO WALL REPTILES!

Oh yeah,
And by the end of the class EVERYONE wants to touch or hold a snake. People are not stupid. They will learn what you teach them...so, I say, EDUCATE em.

( we do use antibacterial hand sanitizer...and only "selected" snakes are handled)

Snakes that fed, are not handled. These are left alone once they have completed swallowing the prey...NEVER had a regurgitation.

It is not about showing off. It is about maintaining the interest and focus of the audience....even those "cool" teenagers...and once you have their attention...TEACH THEM.
Harlin Wall - WALL TO WALL REPTILES!

Harlin,

You have convinced me! Y E S!

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Kyle
www.royalvariations.com

"be safe, be happy and dont let anyone make you afraid" David Coverdale

Harlin,

I really would have thought that "non herpers" would be squeemish about watching a snake eat but based on your experience I can only say that you would know more about their reactions than me.
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Kyle
www.royalvariations.com

"be safe, be happy and dont let anyone make you afraid" David Coverdale

I would say for most people, NO! but if you have alot of experience feeding animals in front of people and feel comfortable doing so and have had NO problems from any of the people watching, then it is up to you to decide and be responsible accordingly but I would still say NO in most cases.

Harlin is experienced and knows what he is doing. He also seems to have a grasp of speaking to people and making them feel comfortable as he explains in detail what he and the snakes are doing and why. He seems very comfortable feeding animals in front of people and has done so with alot of success.

I would not even attempt to feed animals if front of people for many reasons but that is me.

If you do decide to feed snakes in front of people be prepared and be responsible not to mention think it through very carefully.

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Kyle
www.royalvariations.com

"be safe, be happy and dont let anyone make you afraid" David Coverdale

I did once. It was a thawed mouse to a young boa. I made sure everyone was comfortable with it ahead of time, explained why a frozen thawed mouse was being used, and that it was killed humanely.

It went over very well. Because of the large group we hooked up a video camera and large TV so that everyone could see what was happening in front of them if there was someone they couldn't see past. We also explained that everyone had to sit very still and not make any noise. Worked very well. That was with a group of 4th graders.

I haven't done it since, but wouldn't say no, but in most cases I wouldn't do it.

I also want to note that when doing large presentations the animals are housed in heated thermostat controlled displays or cages.

And I would only do this with a snake I knew had a strong stomach.

No I would not , Not to a new group or first time viewers . I would to a advanced group ,ones that are more prepared for what they would be seeing because it can be a shock to some one that has not seen it before . that’s how you get bad publicity by showing that to some one that doesn’t understand the truth about nature , You know the ones I’m talking about it ,the bamby lovers the ones that think all animals love each other and play together . So that’s the way I feel Thanks David of DS Reptile Rescue

I thought I would add that most of the shows I do are at Schools and don’t have what I feel is enough time the first time I see each group to be able to tell them all that I wont and feel they need to hear before showing a feeding . Thanks David

No. I would not. At the very most, I would only feed a dead rodent. There is no reason to expose people to the violence of a strike and kill - fuel for the anti's.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I do about three snake birthday parties per month for ages ranging from 6 to 12. My intent is to make every one feel comfortable with the snakes. I can't help feel that if I fed a snake in front of one of these groups I would have people complaining about it.

The only time I have fed my snakes in front of other people is when someone comes to my house and asks to see one of my snakes eat. I would never intentionally feed any of my snakes at a child's party.

That's just me.

Brian
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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

I have done a feeding or two in the past - but I look back at it as something that I have regretted doing - not that anything went wrong - but upon reflection it is unnecessary - the cool shock factor is not worth the added stress on the animal - even the smallest kids have seen one of the billion shows describing how snakes eat - so it really has gone from being "informative" to "entertainment" and IMO unnecessary. Over the years I've used pictures, slide shows and even video on my laptop to show feedings and it works just as well.
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Tosha