Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Started out fine enough:

The the first sign of trouble:

The all hell breaks lose, notice the flouresant gut?:

And it goes down like spagetti too:

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My roomates 1 boa(Flicka),3 corns, 1 cat(Morris) and 1 dog(Chance)

While I normally just lurk around in this forum,but frequent poster in the burm forum... I felt I had to post this message.
I'm curious...
Why is it we feel a need to show others pics of feeding snakes?
Do we truly need to feed more fuel into the anti-constrictor craze that seems to be building in many areas? What may seem like a normal picture to you, may be used as propoganda to those that would like to put an end to our hobby.
Don't think this could happen? You'd be sadly mistaken. I work to lobby against anti hunting legislation, and you'd be amazed at the lengths the animal welfare groups would go through to misconstrue any facts, or photo they can, to advance their agenda.If you don't think those same groups are playing a part in the current spate of anti-herp legislation,you'd be wrong.
Think hard before you post photos that can be portrayed as animal cruelty.
We've all seen our snakes feed. Yes, I'm sure we've even seen all that can go wrong when we do. No need to post it here for the whole world to see.

In my opinion, that's a little harsh.

For one, groups will get hold of pictures whether or not they are posted here.

Secondly, a snake feeding is not cruel. Yes, It may be construed so - but a vegitarian would tell you that an advert for a meat pie is cruel as well. Sweeping images under the rugs isn't going to help the issue. 'The public' need to learn that snakes are not sly or evil creatures. Familiarisation will help with this. Not hiding our passion away.

Perhaps we should ask all frequenters of these forums not to post stories of things gone wrong. Not to post pictures of bites. Better yet, no pictures or stories at all - they might be construed in the wrong way.

Sorry you felt is was harsh, but I believe you missed the point.
One only needs to search these forums,especially the Burm forum, to see, that feeding pics are not all that popular. Some have been criticized by others more experienced, and more highly regarded than myself.
However, going on my experience fighting all the animal rights groups...I can say, with absolute certainty,I don't think I'd take the chance posting feeding pics.
Ya know, all it takes is one voice to create a problem. Ask yourself this...who is more organized to fight...
We the herp keepers, or PETA,or Friends of Animals, or the Fund for Animals, or the Humane Society??
Want to show the positive side of our snakes? Post pics of you and your animal educating children, Boy Scouts...etc.
Show the positive side.
I saw pics here recently of someone that fed a roadkilled fawn to thier snake.
Imagine that pic, blown up to poster size, shown to a crowd at a public hearing on the banning of private snake ownership.
Who would get more sympathy...lovers of Bambi?
Or lovers of giant snakes?
All I'm asking you to do is think first before posting.
Not so hard to do.

It shows a side of this field that doesnt need to be seen, pictures taken for the wow factor or gross factor can and will be used against herpers in this country for banning. I know this for a fact. Im not into censorship either but the photo was in bad taste, and these days the snake nazis dont need anymore ammunition for their cause, the papers are already loaded with it.
my 2cents
Peace
B

And so you post pornagraphic snake pics?...lol
Snake nazis? I like it!!!!
Exactly what I'm saying.
Diggy...your photography is awesome!
Use it to post some other pics...We'd love to see.

LOL, well it is slightly more appealing dont ya think? I wont get on my soapbox again, and hopefully the fellow who posted wont take what I said personally. Its just that any bad press or "colorful" pictures can be used in a negative way, Ive seen it happen already once or twice. The bans in this country are not just oriented at hots, you cant even have a ball python in San Francisco, and its not stopping there, I imagine venomous insects will be next on the list if things are not gotten under control soon.
CHeers
B

I agree that the picture shown was in bad taste. It was crude and aimed at getting the 'wow factor'.

However - to not post pics of an aspect of snake-keeping is to show that even we, as keepers, feel the need to hide aspects of our passion.

A snake feeding, in my opinion, is a beautiful thing. Just because it is different doesn't mean it is bad. Like I already said, pictures are going to be available to lobbyists whether they are posted here or not.

OK, I am going to jump in here. While I can't say that it is harmful to post pictures of feeding reptiles here, I can say that, working for the state and eating at the same cafeteria as most of the lawmakers here in our state, pictures of them eating would be much more horrifying and disgusting! Now THERE is something to fear!

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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
1-1-0 Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-1-0 Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

since this seems like a debate...all of us who have snakes know how they eat. so why post photos of it. i found the photos gross. but that is MY opinion. I see no reasone to post photos like that.....or photos of snakes mating.
i come to kingsnake for advise and to read about other peoples snake issues not to look at gross feeding photos.
this is MY 2 cents...