Also I just remembered... there are those "snake sausages". You could use those, although I think a lot of people in the reptile community are unsure about them, just because they won't print the ingredients and are worried it leaves out the guts and the bones of the animal... both beneficial to the snake. From what I could find as far as nutritional adequecy goes, an adult mouse contains on average 19% protein and 9% fat, the sausages contain 16.5% protein and 13% fat... so guess it's up to you. I do know that Kathy Love had used it on their corns and they were perfectly happy with the product. Maybe something to research.
ANY alternative snake food?
- Thread starter Gourami Swami
- Start date
Explain to her that snakes eat mice for a reason. I read a statistic (have no idea on its validity) once that if snakes did not exist at all, the average American household would be overrun with 3-5 generations of mice/rats.
As cute as they may seem, mice and rats are considered vermin because they can easily transmit diseases/parasites to humans, they can chew through practically anything (including wood, steel, aluminum, wires, etc), they also eat our food, etc. And the little pests reproduce like mad.
As far as natural predators, rodents have a long list, but most could not follow them inside their burrows in the grown. So the snake was evolution's answer. A snake can follow its rodent prey anywhere, something cats, dogs, birds, etc, cannot.
So let's recap...rodents aren't really that great for people. Snakes eat rodents. OH WAIT! (snaps fingers in mock contempt) Mice have fur and cute little beadie eyes. Snakes have no legs, can't blink and stick out their tongues. I suppose the most logical choice is to side with the vermin that gave us the plague. Makes sense, no?
As cute as they may seem, mice and rats are considered vermin because they can easily transmit diseases/parasites to humans, they can chew through practically anything (including wood, steel, aluminum, wires, etc), they also eat our food, etc. And the little pests reproduce like mad.
As far as natural predators, rodents have a long list, but most could not follow them inside their burrows in the grown. So the snake was evolution's answer. A snake can follow its rodent prey anywhere, something cats, dogs, birds, etc, cannot.
So let's recap...rodents aren't really that great for people. Snakes eat rodents. OH WAIT! (snaps fingers in mock contempt) Mice have fur and cute little beadie eyes. Snakes have no legs, can't blink and stick out their tongues. I suppose the most logical choice is to side with the vermin that gave us the plague. Makes sense, no?
LOL that wouldnt work, she is totally convinced I would be killing stuart little.
Davo, steak sausages? Can I get a link? I would be able to sneak a mouse in every month or so, so the feeding would probably be sausage-mous-sausage-mouse or something like that... where can i get the sausages?
Davo, steak sausages? Can I get a link? I would be able to sneak a mouse in every month or so, so the feeding would probably be sausage-mous-sausage-mouse or something like that... where can i get the sausages?
I think they are a T-rex product... their supplies keep getting stopped over here, so we don't get them much 'cause I heard that some of their products don't comply with our regulations. You'll have to try find a US site that sells them, I'm sure they'll be plenty.
Only problem is I don't know what size they are, and so not sure how suitable it would be for anything bigger than a corn really, cause they do look a bit bite size.
Only problem is I don't know what size they are, and so not sure how suitable it would be for anything bigger than a corn really, cause they do look a bit bite size.
Gourami Swami;1427786; said:
I went through a similar situation with my mom when I wanted to get a snake. It took a while but I wore her down.
First, your mom is a hypocrite (Unless she's a vegan). I don't mean disrespect but it's true. While she's cooking steaks, she's thinking you're a murderer of mice. Unfortunately, you probably shouldn't take this route with her but point out that she isn't being logical about it. The other life forms in your house eat meat too-she needs to understand this.
One thing I would highly recommend is to explain that she will never know when the snake eats. PROMISE her that she doesn't need to witness it.
When feeding time rolls around, quietly sneak the mouse in to the house in a non descript paper bag, close your door and feed your snake. Don't flaunt it, don't talk about it. RESPECT HER OPINION. Promise her and stand by your word.
This is what finally convinced my Mom to let me keep snakes.
It is unfortunate that your mother's irrational fear of both live and dead mice is keeping you from getting a snake.
Unfortunately, rodent prey is a staple food for 99% of the commonly kept captive snakes and if you get a snake, you will need to feed it rodent prey at some time in their life.
Maybe you can ease your mother into it somehow? Ask the pet store if you and your mom can observe them feeding the snakes at the store, both live and f/t, so she can see that it isn't as bad as she imagines.
Also consider that she may just not want you to get a snake in the first place, and using the "no mice" rule as an excuse to the fact that she really just doesn't want a snake in the house.
My advice to you is to do research, lots of it, and show her that you plan on being responsible with the pet. A lot of parents don't allow their kids to get pets for fear that they will just lose interest in 2 months and move on to something else, like a lot of kids do. If you are truely passionate about keeping a snake for its lifetime (sometimes 20+ years!), show her that you are in it for the long term.
Unfortunately, rodent prey is a staple food for 99% of the commonly kept captive snakes and if you get a snake, you will need to feed it rodent prey at some time in their life.
Maybe you can ease your mother into it somehow? Ask the pet store if you and your mom can observe them feeding the snakes at the store, both live and f/t, so she can see that it isn't as bad as she imagines.
Also consider that she may just not want you to get a snake in the first place, and using the "no mice" rule as an excuse to the fact that she really just doesn't want a snake in the house.
My advice to you is to do research, lots of it, and show her that you plan on being responsible with the pet. A lot of parents don't allow their kids to get pets for fear that they will just lose interest in 2 months and move on to something else, like a lot of kids do. If you are truely passionate about keeping a snake for its lifetime (sometimes 20+ years!), show her that you are in it for the long term.
elevatethis;1428008; said:
I would not do this! People who aren't "Snake people" won't think watching a snake eat is "No big deal". Just my opinion.
I do agree that showing her that you can be a responsible snake keeper is a smart move.Brooklynella;1428034; said:
