Feeding with Gerbils

[el lobo]

I work at a pet store, and so I often get free "feeders" from people who can't take care of them anymore (hampsters, rats, mice, etc)...well, I got a gerbil yesterday, and this thing is a terror! I tried to feed it to my monitor, and my monitor freaked out. He dove at the gerbil, and then went to a corner and arched his back and hissed. So I tried feeding to my California Kingsnake. My snake ran(I hope you all appreciate personification) from it, and the gerbil kept biting my snakes tail! Have any of you guys tried feeding with gerbils? same experiences? What would explain this strange behaviour from my herps, and from this gerbil? I have ne'er seen anything like it!

[el lobo]

Oh, and I can't feed to any of my garters...too big, you see.

[lestat]

The only thing i can think of is that both Monitor and Kingsnake have never come across a Gerbil and once it lost it's fear of the Kingsnake it atacked it as its best defence to being eaten. I would keep the gerbil and give it a good home. Also i am against feeding live rodents to reptiles but that's my own opinion and it's up to each indiviual to choose wether to or not to. If one of your reptiles does eat a gerbil it might get a taste only for gerbils witch can be costly.

[el lobo]

My kingsnake only takes live prey, unfortunately for my wallet haha. all of my herps enjoy a wide variety of meat, so I wouldn't worry about them changing their preferences :)

You may be right about the defence mechanism....the gerbil chose fight over flight!

[infernalis]

Ball pythons consider gerbils a tasty treat, but sometimes will then only want gerbils after.

I have a milk snake the refuses all pre-kill rodents, he will not eat unless he kills it himself.

However his feedings are strictly supervised, and if the rodent bites my snake, I quickly whack it over the head, and the snake will keep on eating at that point.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I fed a dead gerbil to my bullsnake once... she didnt waste any time!

Ball pythons love gerbils, but then again i would not do it unless your ball is starving himself, because ball pythons tend to get a taste for something like that, and want only that!!

[el lobo]

I will try killing it for my monitor...I would like to feed it to my T. s. sirtalis, but it is a REALLY old gerbil, and it is fat as all get out.

[Snake lover 3-25]

it was a pet????

[Jenlang_79]

Sorry but I think that is horrible!!! People bring their pets back to the store thinking they are going to a home and your feeding them to your snakes and lizards...I think that is awful!!! I only feed mine frozen mice...I couldn't watch them get killed..but atleast they are raised to be snake food..not someones pet!!

[Snake lover 3-25]

me too!!! that's why i asked if it was a pet or a retired breeder!!!!:eek: :( that's horrible!!!! it's like giving your cat to your neighbor and having them eat it for dinner!!!!:(:(:(:eek:

[Jenlang_79]

I already posted something but I can't find it..so if two show up..sorry!!

I think it is absolutly horrible that you are feeding these pets to your snakes...that is not what they are intended for!!! People trust you to find these animals a good home and you betray them and feed them to your animals...If you want to feed your snakes live prey..well good for you (they could end up getting hurt..but it is your choice)..but atleast buy the ones that are bred to be feeders not someone's pet!! I just adopted a hamster his name is snickers..he is one of the sweetest animals..he has a personality..and he is my pet..just like those one's are someone's pets. What is wrong with the feeder mice, rats, and so on? You work at a pet store..don't you have those there? And I can't believe your pet store lets you take them home for food...that is bad. Not a place I would trust to take good care of their animals. That is just my opinion...but I do think you should stop it!!

I also think it is people that do stupid things like this that give snake owners a bad name.

[Jenlang_79]

Oh and if you can't afford to BUY your snakes feeder rodents then you shouldn't have them!!!

[Snake lover 3-25]

jenny you have VERY strong opinions.... and i agree with most of them.... but not as strongly.... idk... i think it's their choice and even though i don't see it as right... i won't kill them over it....:D:D:D:p

btw you did double post if you click the refresh buton your post will show up...:D:D

[Jenlang_79]

oops...lol!! :D:D:DI don't think it should be his choice to feed his snakes pets..but that is me. I am usually a very peaceful person..but this makes me sick...sorry.:rolleyes:;)

[infernalis]

Jenny, Here is something to think about, some of our "feeder" mice have occasionally become pets.

There was even one little guy that just refused to be contained, so one sunny afternoon I look him out to the edge of a meadow that has many wild mice, and simply gave him what he so wanted.

I watch entire colonies performing social duties, parenting and even siblings helping out with new litters.

I have never looked at mouse traps and rat poison the same ever since.

Yet at the same time, my reptiles need to eat.

So do I want to support factory mouse farms that slaughter millions and provide zero comforts to the animal in the process, or..

Raise pampered, spoiled mice that lead the life of a king.

So it does present a rather different twist to morals.

[Jenlang_79]

That is all fine and good..yes it is a fact of life...snakes need to eat...just like lions need to eat and they usually eat baby animals...I have no problem with that..I have had snakes for about 15 years or so...but I don't think when people bring the animals that WERE pets back to the pet store that he should then feed them to his snakes...just don't see anything right about that!!:D:D:D

Oh and I get my mice from a little pet store that breeds them. She takes good care of them and they have a pretty good life before she she kills them..lol. If you want to usually you can find a good place to buy them...just takes a little research.

[Snake lover 3-25]

i agree yet again!!!!!!:D:D:D

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Honestly jenny i think your feelings are jsut a bit strong... I work at a pet store and I know from first hand that many unwanted mice and gerbils placed up for adoption... are "adopted" out... and the people say they are going to give it a home, when in reality, they have snakes too. When there is a small fuzzy creature that is "free" you can bet more than just the employees at the store are considering feeding it to their snakes. I actually watched a guy at a petco once "adopt" two bunnies and a hamster, the hamster came with a big cage and everything... I was sitting in the car and I saw him drive around back and dump the hamsters cage in the dumpster... what does that say?

I am not saying all people who adopt small fuzzy things are using them as food, that would be entirely wrong. what I am saying is, especially with today's economy, people will do what is necessary to save them even a bit of money. That doesn't mean that they can't afford to feed their snakes and you should definately not assume that. I personally have taken old sickly hamsters from people who didn't want them anymore and used them for feeding. At least that animal had a good life while it was a pet, and was not sitting in an overcrowded stinky feeder mill with no comfort or love. If you think it is cruel to feed an ex-pet, possibly consider the short loveless overcrowded lives that most animals bred as feeders must endure before being put our of their misery. I am with wayne here, I would much rather see the animals get some love and real attention and care rather than live a mindless life of being born, eating, and dieing.

Just today at work, I had to put a whole litter of hamsters in the freezer. Our store room cages were all full, and the mother had rejected her babies. She was eating them. We have way too many hamsters, the males broke into the females tank last month so we have had an explosion of babies beyond our control. So my boss was about to flush them down the toilet, but I said hey remember I have snakes, if we put them in the freezer they will go out quietly and they will be put to a good use instead of rotting in the sewers.

[Snake lover 3-25]

i think that that is fine as long as the previous owners know or at least have an idea what is being done with their pets...

[Stefan-A]

i think that that is fine as long as the previous owners know or at least have an idea what is being done with their pets...
Equally fine if they never find out. They'll be just as happy.

[Jenlang_79]

Ya know snakeloven babe...I don't care if "everybody is doing it" I still do not agree with it..I don't base my opinions on popular vote.. I see nothing wrong with taking old sick hamsters...to be fair that is alot different, to humanely kill them and then use them for food is probably the best thing you can do!! and like I said before...you can find breeders that are not cruel to their mice. Maybe you think I am too emotional..or whatever..I just know right from wrong..and this is just plain wrong..overpopulation comes from people being irresponsible (imagine that!! lol)..we are overpopulated with dogs and cats too..should we kill them all for food!! I mean..come on!

[Jenlang_79]

OH we could chop them up in little peices and feed them to our snakes...yum yum

[Jenlang_79]

Ya know...people are overpopulated too...ummmmmm...what should we do with them?

[Jenlang_79]

Please don't take this personally anyway....this is just my opinion..and your opinion..it does not offend me..and I really hope my opinion does not offend you...I am kinda joking anyway.

[Stefan-A]

Ya know...people are overpopulated too...ummmmmm...what should we do with them?
Soylent Green.


I just know right from wrong
Most people do, they just disagree on what the definition is.

[Jenlang_79]

Soylent Green. what does that mean? sorry:-)

Oh it is a movie..lol!! any good?


Most people do, they just disagree on what the definition is.
Very true!! I know right from wrong in my world..yours might be different..lol!!:D

[Stefan-A]

what does that mean? sorry:-)

Oh it is a movie..lol!! any good?
It's a classic.

[count dewclaw]

but I don't think when people bring the animals that WERE pets back to the pet store that he should then feed them to his snakes...just don't see anything right about that!!:D:D:D

To throw in another twist...what about that pet owner? If they really care what happens to their pet shouldn't they take the time to find the pet a good home? Why dump it at the pet store?

[anji1971]

To throw in another twist...what about that pet owner? If they really care what happens to their pet shouldn't they take the time to find the pet a good home? Why dump it at the pet store?

I'm in agreement here.
Caleb stated earlier in the post that it was a "really old gerbil" and if the owner's just dumped it at his pet store, they obviously didn't really care what became of it either, as long as they didn't have to deal with it anymore.
I would have done what he did. In fact, seeing as how pinkies are so darned expensive here, and I've not been using them for that reason, if the opportunity comes along, I will do what he did.

[Snake lover 3-25]

idk what to agree with anymore!!!!!:confused:

[jitami]

To throw in another twist...what about that pet owner? If they really care what happens to their pet shouldn't they take the time to find the pet a good home? Why dump it at the pet store?

LeAnn, I was thinking the same thing. If any of you have looked at Craigslist's pet section lately there are an overabundance of pet mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, etc being offered. They're often bought as pets for children who lose interest and the parents can't be bothered to care for them. I would argue that except in rare circumstances the pet rodent is better off being humanely(I wouldn't do live, but again, judgment call) fed to a snake than continuing to live with people who would so easily give it back to a pet store. I know there are exceptions and people sometimes have circumstances that they can't help, but really, if they can't be bothered to find it a home themselves what do you think the living conditions were like before they gave it back to the pet store?

[drache]

I'm not sure I agree with the assessment that it's worse for a pampered pet to be eaten by a snake than for a feeder rodent
it's kind of like saying that Marie Antoinette suffered more than the average peasant
it assumes the same hierarchy of value that will lead a person to neglect or discard a $7.- pet
that being said - those pets may not have been quite as pampered as you might imagine and possibly had to endure more stress than the average feeder

[jitami]

that being said - those pets may not have been quite as pampered as you might imagine and possibly had to endure more stress than the average feeder

That's exactly what I was getting at, but I do tend to ramble! If the people were willing to drop off their pet at the pet store then it probably hasn't been pampered in quite awhile. :confused:

[infernalis]

we are overpopulated with dogs and cats too..should we kill them all for food!! I mean..come on!

Heres where I will get shot down, ground up and spit out....

And before anyone takes this wrong, I have taken in more than one stray cat, Oscar was $500 up front in surgeries and vet care, before I even knew if he was going to work out. We have the ashes of our passed away schnauzer in an urn, I think we get the idea there.

Jenny, If I could end human starvation, provide sound meals for every child, eliminate world hunger,

By serving chowder made from all those unwanted cats and dogs,

I would be first in line to help out.

[Jenlang_79]

Wayne...start serving...LOL!!!
As for the gerbils/hamsters..I still think if they were pets it is wrong...but if they are old or sick..well then I don't think so..but If they are young and have a chance at adoption then I don't think they should be used. Obviously I believe that the people who are bringing these pets back to the store are irresponsible..but there are lots of responsible people who have rodents as pets also..Yes feeder mice are expensive..but you knew that before you got your snakes...I guess it is just a personal opinion..I was probably a little harsh to caleb..I don't really think he is a bad person...but I do think it is wrong.
As for Snake Lover..not know what to believe..you believe what feels right to you...it doesn't matter what other people believe..or it shouldn't.:D:D:D

[infernalis]

"Yes feeder mice are expensive..but you knew that before you got your snakes.."

Unless (like us) you are a sucker for unwanted neglected snakes, it only takes a moment to say "Yes I will take your snake for you", followed by years of killing mice to feed it.

And just so you know Jenny, That big heart of yours, treasure that! in this world we live in today, compassion is fading fast.........

Without even seeing you, I can say without reservation you are a beautiful person..... Never change!!!!:D:D

[anji1971]

I had no idea what feeder mice cost. Once I read so many threads here recommending their use, I looked into it. :eek:
Well, let's just say I'm sticking to worms and fish with vitamin supplements for a while.:D

[infernalis]

I think that is one very good reason that Garters make a great pet.

"murdering mice" is optional. Not until our first Corn snake did we even consider mice in this house.

However, to get real technical, I never seen a guppy that was "happy" to be grabbed up out of the water bowl either:eek: Just the other day Melanie ate a guppy, it was flopping around in her tummy for a minute after she ate it.

Even the worms seem like they would rather be somewhere else:o

[anji1971]

The worms put up a startlingly good fight!! I've actually wondered if they'd win sometimes. Really makes feeding time fun!

[el lobo]

Heres where I will get shot down, ground up and spit out....

And before anyone takes this wrong, I have taken in more than one stray cat, Oscar was $500 up front in surgeries and vet care, before I even knew if he was going to work out. We have the ashes of our passed away schnauzer in an urn, I think we get the idea there.

Jenny, If I could end human starvation, provide sound meals for every child, eliminate world hunger,

By serving chowder made from all those unwanted cats and dogs,

I would be first in line to help out.

And I would be first in line to partake! But seriously you guys, A mouse is a mouse is a mouse. I went to pestmart once, and tried to buy a mouse, and they asked me what size cage I had. I told them I didn't have a cage for it, I was feeding it to my snake. They refused to sell it to me. It sure looked like a feeder to me, but apparently it was a 'fancy' mouse. I can afford to feed my snakes. I have a job (obviously) and have plenty of money to feed all of my animals. I could even afford to feed my dingo if my parents asked me to. But the fact is, I am not going to pay for something that I can get for free! The people who bring in their 'pet' rodents or lagomorphs did what they wanted with it. They give it to me, and it becomes my property, and I may do what I wish with it. If I were to give away one of my snakes, it is the person's business who I gave it to what they do with it...whether they want to keep it as a pet, sell if for a profit, or feed it to there king cobra. What is a tire to one person might be a bear's toy to another. What is an antique chair to one person might be firewood for another. people use things for what they need them for. Everything has multiple uses. I am just recycling the gerbil, and giving it another use. It should be proud that it made two people happy in two different ways.

[el lobo]

..we are overpopulated with dogs and cats too..should we kill them all for food!! I mean..come on!

I say yes! Meat is meat. unfortunately, not everyone in the U.S. shares the same outlook. most people in the United States prefer to eat herbivoures and the occasional omnivoure, and avoid carnivoures. But what is the difference between a dog and a cow. They are both living creatures! I would eat both.

[adamanteus]

Certainly in the Far East, carnivores such as cats and dogs (and snakes) feature regularly on the menu.

[beaniesmommy]

I don't want to repeat what has already been said but I appreciate all opinions, but I have to agree with Caleb on this one. I myself have a household of "dysfunctional" pets that have been rescued because no one wants them or they aren't being taken care of. But, the owner of the gerbil chose to drop it off and not find it a home. Therefore, you have relinquished all rights to it.

Dekaybrown, I will stand in line and feed the hungry with you. I have worked in a animal shelter and I would much rather feed children with the meat than euthanize and incinerate thousands of animals a year because people are to ignorant to get ther animals fixed.

See how that works... You can state your opinion without "attacking" someone. :D We should all respect peoples opinions, it is like religion and politics no one will ever agree and that is what makes this world a wonderful place.

[el lobo]

Hooray for the Anti-Ad Hominist! :) lol

[drache]

hey - I grok

[el lobo]

Just to make the neah-sayers happy...I am selling the gerbil, because none of my herps will have anything to do with it. I am charging a rehoming fee of 10 dollars, with the cage and running wheel, and it is going to a good home. :)

[sschind]

we are overpopulated with dogs and cats too..should we kill them all for food!! I mean..come on!

???????????????????