The Dangers of Live Feeding

[X-Factor]

Well Done Louise... I was wondering when this thread was going to be done over here. Glad he's doing well.

[louise]

i wasn't gonna bring it here but a few people asked about what happened to chance.

[Kobi Baby]

Louise, all I can say is that you ROCK! You are an amazing person for taking Chance in, for having the determination to help her get through the traumas, and for sticking by your promise to give her an amazing life. I think everyone who looks at this thread can easily see the bond between you and Chance, and its beautiful. I'm so glad she is living strong ...and obviously spoiled!

I'm not one for violence, but I give you major kudos for kicking that woman's butt, because she deserved it in every respect. And if she treated Chance like that, what on earth was she doing back in a pet store? She isn't worthy of keeping animals.

[bleeding_sarcasm]

hahaha, I never heard the part about you beating down the ex-owner. That totally rocks on so many levels hahah.

Is it okay to post other pictures of live feeding horror stories?

[Magvns]

You Rock Louise! I've Loved Chance Since I First Saw Pics Of Him He Is Truely A 1 In A Million Snake. Kudos To You For Saving Him :top:

:congrats:

Since You Live So Close Now, I'll Have To Meet Him One Of These Days

[louise]

Originally Posted by bleeding_sarcasm

hahaha, I never heard the part about you beating down the ex-owner. That totally rocks on so many levels hahah.

Is it okay to post other pictures of live feeding horror stories?

please do. the more the better. the more people see the more hope that they will open thier eyes. thanks so much for willing to share your stories too.

[bleeding_sarcasm]

Thanks. I cant take credit for these, I have never had a snake or any animal for that matter sustain a rat or mouse bite. this was posted on a Rhacodactylus forum I frequent by a herp vet who is a regular on there.

here is the thread:
SERIOUS GRAPHIC WARNING: A feeding "Don't" - The Pangea Forums

Originally Posted by Dr Alan

I know this is a gecko forum, but some of us keep other reptiles. Had to put this poor guy down a few days ago. His owner had given him a live rat, left him and didn't check 'til the next day. This is what she woke up to. I guess it just sucks to be a snake if your owner is dumber then a bag of hammers.

He went on to describe this:

Originally Posted by Dr Alan

In the largest wound, the skin and muscle were missing to a depth of nearly a centimeter over an area encompassing more then 35% of the snake's girth, and the two largest wounds were virtually connected. The skin that seems to be bridging the gap between the wounds (see third and fourth pics) was separated from the underlying tissue and would have sloughed, leaving an even more massive open cavity. Balancing the remote liklihood of this healing (and that would take years with a snake) against the issues of infection, pain and dehydration, the decision wasn't difficult. The snake was about a millimeter away from having an open coelomic cavity; you can see the thin membrane which is all that is left covering his internal organs in the second and third pictures. In a mammal, the prognosis is much better with wounds of this nature.

Originally Posted by Dr Alan

The owner had had this unfortunate snake for only a month. Teenybopper; maybe eighteen, with an entourage. Dyed blonde with too much black eye makeup. Belly shirt a size too small with hip huggers worn so low that her pubic hair was showing. Clearly interested in the snake only insofar as the big reptile shock value went. Sounds judgemental, doesn't it? I guess I was at the time....

Originally Posted by Dr Alan

Well, yes and no. Think about mammalian behavior and snake behavior. Are there many snakes which are truly aggressive, except as an expression of hunger? Even territorial displays like hissing, rattling, and hooding up are most of the time just that: displays. You have to push even venomous animals pretty hard to provoke an attack, and most of these attacks are short and defensive in nature. And what is a typical snake response to an aggressive display or attack by a warm-blooded? Most of the time the snake, any snake, will retreat and try to get away and hide. Will they bite as an expression of fear? Certainly. Even garter snakes and green snakes will try to bite if captured by humans that are 250 times as large as the snake, but the preferred response would be to get away. Where's a ball python limited to maybe three square feet of living area going to go when the rat attacks? And the nature and extent of the python's wounds suggests that the rat did not injure the snake out of malice or fear, but rather from sheer hunger.

[louise]

OMG! if that dont change someones mind than they just dont care! and you can take credit for sharing this. you took the time to add to this and again i thank you for it.

[brooksie2]

My god. I dont understand how people can be that negligent. I hate that that didn't have to happen and that that girl will probably get another snake and do it all over again. I wish people would learn....