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Anyone ever heard of a glossy snake eating a......

icedearthgoddess May 24, 2005 01:22 AM

Anyone ever heard of a glossy snake eating a ladybug (two actually)?

Well here's the run down:

I work at PetsMart in Lancaster, California, and some guy came in with shovelnose, which he claimed was a baby cal king, then went on to argue with me that it was a king, not a shovelnose, in which I set the record straight. Then he proceeded to tell me he had a baby "gopher" in the car, and asked if I would come out and take a look at it. He said it had "two funny bumps inside" and wondered what they were... Well, I guessed he was born with a few kinks, maybe even had a few broken ribs that either weren't healed or healed improperly. Turns out his son said it just fed it two lady bugs he caught outside. I guess my main question to this story is: will a glossy eat a lady bug... even though, yes this one apparently did, and two will it be able to digest it properly? I know they eat lizards and digest the bones... but I know that some geckos and other reptiles such as those have a hard time digesting the hard shells of some insects, such as mealworms, maybe even ladybugs? Any input on this would be great, thanks
-----
~Laura

Rejoice, the age of the fall has begun
We'll dance as the palaces burn.
--Lamb of God, As the Palaces Burn

Replies (5)

rhallman May 24, 2005 09:37 AM

I do not believe the snake actually ate the beetles. Even if it had I doubt they would have made noticeable bumps in even a small Glossy. If he was attempting to sell them I hope you informed him such a transaction would be illegal.
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Firehouse Herps

Lia May 24, 2005 11:23 AM

I would think lady bugs would be digested easily they arent hard like beeetles or many other insects. I am suprised the snake ate them.
I love shovelnose snakes what color was his? I dont have any but looking into them.
Thanks

icedearthgoddess May 24, 2005 12:47 PM

It was yellow with black bands, there are others? I just knew about the one out here in California...
-----
~Laura

Rejoice, the age of the fall has begun
We'll dance as the palaces burn.
--Lamb of God, As the Palaces Burn

Lia May 24, 2005 01:26 PM

Oh not sure about the color types in CA but I know there are some with lots of red yellow and black stripes but I like all of them.
I think overall 3 different color types but imagine the other 2 in Arizona. The pet store in my area carries the red striped during late summer chances are going to get them.
I imagine working in pet store can be stressful because some people want to do what they want to do regardless of what you advice them.
this is the red striped tho I like the other ones also

http://www.pitt.edu/~mcs2/herp/snake.pics/C_palarostris.jpg

aliceinwl May 24, 2005 09:22 PM

I caught two tiny glossy snakes the week before last. Both ended up taking pinies right off the bat, I scented one, but I suspect that he would have taken it anyway. Even in such tiney snakes (8" the pinkies didn't leave mush of a lump and I can't imagine the lady bugs leaving any kind of lump unless the snake was really emaciated. If they did actually eat the ladybugs, I don't think they'd have any trouble passing them. Most lizards won't even eat lady bugs (I think that they taste bad or secrete something nasty) so I'd be really surprised if the snakes actually did eat the beetles.

-Alice

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