BillyVance 34 #1 April 11, 2005 This past weekend I was visiting my fellow deaf skydiver friend's apt. to help him fix his computer. I noticed he had put a hamster in his snake cage for his 5 foot long ball python. The poor bastard was in a corner frantically trying to scramble up the glass walls. The snake didn't seem to care, even though he's hungry. Anyway, the snake IS a fussy eater. Apparently, he won't eat female hamsters, only male hamsters... but this one IS a male hamster... go figure. Anyway, my friend said if the snake doesn't eat the hamster within that first day, he throws the hamster out. He doesn't want the cage reeking of hamster piss. Well, I thought to myself, maybe I'll take the hamster out and play with it a little... like people do with pet hamsters... Only this one was NOTHING like a pet hamster. I get my hand close to it and it turns around, spreads wide open on its hind legs, and HISSES! Yeah, I mean it HISSED! Damn... I could hear him, believe it or not! Well, I got him in my hand and as I'm trying to pull him out, he bites my thumb AND pisses on my hand! WTF! That little ungrateful prick! Well, I can't blame him... He's in a cage with a snake and obviously stressed out. However, when I was ready to leave, my friend announced that it was time to throw the hamster out since his snake didn't take it. Normally, his snake will eat the hamster within 5 minutes of putting one in the cage. It had been a whole day. So... he got the hamster out in a little can, went out on the 2nd floor deck, dropped the hamster out of the can onto his hand, and flung it out! The sight of a little fur ball frantically flailing its short limbs in freefall was just hilarious . When it landed, it seemed stunned at first, but then came to and waddled off, obviously to be dinner for a hawk or stray cat. Any of you snake owners have snakes who are fussy and sometimes don't eat their given prey? If yes, what do you do with the rejected prey? Maybe I'll have some more humane ideas to tell this dude what to do with the next rejected hamster... "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tigra 0 #2 April 11, 2005 I'm sure someone will chime in the the whole circle of life thing, but that's just wrong! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dunesurfer 0 #3 April 11, 2005 I have several snakes, and my ball pythons have the most tempermental appetites of all of them. My female ball will only eat rats, and they must be white. Any color on them and she refuses. Ocasionally she will constrict prey then not eat it.(she even constricts frozen and thawed)She will also alternately refuse food for several months, then binge, eating every few days for 2 weeks straight. She never loses any body mass during her hunger strikes so I have learned not to stress over her odd behavior. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #4 April 11, 2005 My 5 foot corn snake eats small rats & large mice of whatever color. But she stops eating in the winter & then starts again about early April. Even though the light & temp in her cage is controlled. I think its weird that a snake would differentiate between male vs female hamsters, or different colored rats. I thought they mostly hunted by scent. One time she ate a baby bird. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rainbo 0 #5 April 11, 2005 It might be going into molt. Many times they will not eat from just before thier eyes glaze over till after they shed.Rainbo TheSpeedTriple - Speed is everything "Blessed are those who can give without remembering, and take without forgetting." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #6 April 11, 2005 QuoteI'm sure someone will chime in the the whole circle of life thing, but that's just wrong! I understand the circle of life thing, but to just throw the hamster like that is wrong. I guess people forget that animals can feel pain.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #7 April 11, 2005 Rodents are by definition there to be insect eliminators and to serve as prey food for others... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tigra 0 #8 April 11, 2005 I agree that hamsters are rodents, but they are also PETS. You shouldn't feed pets to other pets, nor should you abuse them because your pet chose not to eat them. Even if it was "just a rodent" I still don't agree with going out of your way to be cruel to it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #9 April 11, 2005 Quote I understand the circle of life thing, but to just throw the hamster like that is wrong. I guess people forget that animals can feel pain. Yeah, I told my friend that much, and asked if the pet store could take it back for another hamster... he'll find that out on his next visit... they're like $5.00 each, not a whole lot, but still..."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #10 April 11, 2005 QuoteRodents are by definition there to be insect eliminators and to serve as prey food for others... So that give people the right to abuse them?May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #11 April 11, 2005 QuoteQuoteRodents are by definition there to be insect eliminators and to serve as prey food for others... So that give people the right to abuse them? Shit. I did not fully read the post. Abusing Hamsters sucks. One should NOT play with anyone's food. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites FallRate 0 #12 April 11, 2005 Buffalo chicken pieces (raw) worked well for my Burmese. It is recommended by some reptile enthusiasts as it prevents the snake from receiving scratches and bites which can cause infection. If the snake is too picky to eat something that is already dead, well, does it really value it's own life? FallRate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Girlfalldown 0 #13 April 11, 2005 Dude that's fucked up! I mean the part about throwing him. That poor little hamster. If the snake didn't eat him there's a chance he was too big for the snake too. A friend of mine's snake wouldn't eat the mice he put in the cage so I went out and got him some younger, smaller mice and the snake went wild! It wasn't a huge difference in size either. Have him go for the smaller hamsters next time and see if that works. I was having dinner at a friends house one night. They raise these big ass lizards. Anyway they asked me to get something out of the freezer just to mess with me once. It was jam packed with frozen rats. Mmm ratsicles! -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DrunkMonkey 0 #14 April 11, 2005 Do they feed kittens to larger snakes? [/dons flameproof suit] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Girlfalldown 0 #15 April 11, 2005 QuoteDo they feed kittens to larger snakes? [/dons flameproof suit] That makes me sad. Kitties are so cute and they go mew mew mew! I do remember some kids back when I was in high school that would get free kittens and puppies for that reason though. -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DrunkMonkey 0 #16 April 11, 2005 QuoteQuoteDo they feed kittens to larger snakes? [/dons flameproof suit] That makes me sad. Kitties are so cute and they go mew mew mew! ...Although it's a bit muffled, as snakes eat their prey headfirst... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Girlfalldown 0 #17 April 11, 2005 QuoteQuoteQuoteDo they feed kittens to larger snakes? [/dons flameproof suit] That makes me sad. Kitties are so cute and they go mew mew mew! ...Although it's a bit muffled, as snakes eat their prey headfirst... LMAO! -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DJL 235 #18 April 11, 2005 QuoteI do remember some kids back when I was in high school that would get free kittens and puppies for that reason though. Yeah, and I'm sure it was because it's a practical way to feed the snake. Reminds me of the kids in Gummo."I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
FallRate 0 #12 April 11, 2005 Buffalo chicken pieces (raw) worked well for my Burmese. It is recommended by some reptile enthusiasts as it prevents the snake from receiving scratches and bites which can cause infection. If the snake is too picky to eat something that is already dead, well, does it really value it's own life? FallRate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #13 April 11, 2005 Dude that's fucked up! I mean the part about throwing him. That poor little hamster. If the snake didn't eat him there's a chance he was too big for the snake too. A friend of mine's snake wouldn't eat the mice he put in the cage so I went out and got him some younger, smaller mice and the snake went wild! It wasn't a huge difference in size either. Have him go for the smaller hamsters next time and see if that works. I was having dinner at a friends house one night. They raise these big ass lizards. Anyway they asked me to get something out of the freezer just to mess with me once. It was jam packed with frozen rats. Mmm ratsicles! -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #14 April 11, 2005 Do they feed kittens to larger snakes? [/dons flameproof suit] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #15 April 11, 2005 QuoteDo they feed kittens to larger snakes? [/dons flameproof suit] That makes me sad. Kitties are so cute and they go mew mew mew! I do remember some kids back when I was in high school that would get free kittens and puppies for that reason though. -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #16 April 11, 2005 QuoteQuoteDo they feed kittens to larger snakes? [/dons flameproof suit] That makes me sad. Kitties are so cute and they go mew mew mew! ...Although it's a bit muffled, as snakes eat their prey headfirst... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #17 April 11, 2005 QuoteQuoteQuoteDo they feed kittens to larger snakes? [/dons flameproof suit] That makes me sad. Kitties are so cute and they go mew mew mew! ...Although it's a bit muffled, as snakes eat their prey headfirst... LMAO! -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJL 235 #18 April 11, 2005 QuoteI do remember some kids back when I was in high school that would get free kittens and puppies for that reason though. Yeah, and I'm sure it was because it's a practical way to feed the snake. Reminds me of the kids in Gummo."I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
