Hello ~ Thanks for your replies. It was unlikely in my mind with the types of snakes I was working with (primary warm blooded animal feeders) that cannibalism was an option, given such a short period of time together. As far as swapping out animals during cage cleaning and cage moving, it's been known to happen - especially under circumstances regarding Boas and Pythons. I've been beside some of the finest breeders & distributers in the country and they all do the same thing, as long as the species are supportive (in this case the Dumerils comes across as such a passive species, I never would have imagined).

As far as i'm concerned, I have a "scientific" attachment to my animals (not anthropomorphic) and if this is a way that I will gain knowledge on the current topic, (losing the Ball Python to another species to identify cannibalism or losing the Dumerils after it had swallowed something too large), then so be it, i'm ok with that. It's all in the name of science (the foundation of the herpetological world was built on this exact thing) and it just set the foundation for my next article (which should prove to educate many like myself that never would have thought).

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate your criticism and recognize it, but please, understand where i'm coming from as well.

Oh, by the way, the Ball Python was regurgitated (as I expected) within an hour after being swallowed. I washed it off and it is going to be skinned and tanned. The rest of the snake will be used to teach anatomy. The Dumerils is fine today. The entire event was really quite amazing and I do have other photos as well, if you are interested.

Thanks.
Skin & Scales

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