Who'da Thunk?

[Garter_Gertie]

My friends, I hope you're sitting down when you read this. You're never gonna believe it. Maybe. But mother love is probably the strongest emotion on earth - I think. Even stronger than hate.

So, Kenabec is back at the breeder's for 'reconditioning' from live pinkies back to f/t. It will be awhile before he comes home, I've been warned because this could take as long as two months. Okay. What has to happen has to happen.

Niizh, the love of my life, hadn't eaten in about 4-5 weeks. He's been active and ramblin' and moving - and even going up on his mopani log since I got him that moss that he just loves!

I was starting to get a wee bit worried, but not much since the guy is totally fine and I know it. But I didn't want this to go on too much longer.

You're never gonna believe this... *I* - Yours truly - broke down and bought a LIVE PINKIE for Niizh. I couldn't bear it if Niizh had to go away from me. I couldn't be without him.

I just told them what I wanted and went and hid. Never saw it. They put it in the bag and I never had to pick it out or anything. If I had, I couldn't have done it.

When home, I just opened the bag, turned my head away and let it fall into Niizh' deli cup. I then covered the deli cup with a cloth so I couldn't see it, brought it in here, put Niizh in it and put it back on his hot spot in the tank.

Yeah. I watched. Oh! It was so smalll and wee and trying to lift it's head... I was just beside myself. Niizh licked its butt, sniffed it's face, and buried UNDER it, lifting it up... And then lost interest.

I took Niizh out - he really wanted out - and put the cloth back on the deli cup so I couldn't see the poor thing and start bawling. I can't help it! I just love all animals and while my head tells me one thing, my heart breaks at the thought of death for any reason.

Before I went to bed, I put Niizh back in and recovered the deli cup with a cloth.

This AM Niizh was alone in the deli cup. Sleeping the sleep of a fat well fed Hoglette. Snoring to beat the band.

I got my kid fed and didn't have to see it.

I'm exhausted!

[infernalis]

Trust me MK your not the first person to have felt that way.

It gets a little better in time, really it does.

Skin gets a little thicker each time.

[Garter_Gertie]

(((((Dekay))))) Thanks. I hope I never have to do it again, though. I wouldn't mind having mice as pettlettes. I want a chipmunk so bad I try to think up box and stick traps that would work at the park!

At any rate, My Love is fat and happy and that's all that matters. How I feel is secondary.

[olive oil]

Oh Gertie you are stronger than myself!!! I bout lost it when you started talking bout how it was trying to hold it's head up. It still erk's me out when I have to cut up a big nightcrawler for Olive!

[Garter_Gertie]

Oh, Zoe! I'm not really all that strong. The strong are like Lori... Cry me a river, she even breeds COCKROACHES.

I was where you are only about five months ago. And I swore I'd never do live. And I didn't when I had my breeder to fall back on. I mean, I still have him to fall back on, but there is no way I could send Niizh away for a day, let alone two months or longer. With Kenabec, eh. He's always been way more reticent than Niizh and I've not bonded to Kenabec like I have Niizh. Only the fear of having to send Niizh off to be 'reconditioned' - and the fact I didn't have to really look at the thing - allowed me to do it.

Don't read the thread about is breeding feeder mice for you, or whatever it's called. *I* couldn't handle it. You'd prolly pass out and fall outta your computer chair!

Thanks, Sweetie. But I'm not near as strong as you think I am. I'm really a cry-baby wuusie.

[olive oil]

Thank's for the warning I would not make it through it!!!!! I to am a huge softy!!! I can't even kill bugs that get into the house, and I live out in the country. I just share with them.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

man.... you really like mice eh? I like mice and all, but my philosophy is that I also love my snakes, and my rats, mice, and other living things are what they eat. I view a snake going for it's prey not with sadness... but fascination!

[Zephyr]

It's a high hurtle, but we all have to climb it eventually.
Excellent work, mum. :)

[Garter_Gertie]

I think I stated my outlook pretty well. While my head can comprehend, my heart has a difficult time dealing with it. I simply revere and find fascinating all life - even stupid hissing cockroaches, but I don't like them.

I don't view Niizh eating with sadness and I never said that. I truly love watching my kids eat - f/t because they're already dead.

I was happy Niizh did eat and I didn't have to see it. It's hard for me to see death even when I understand the food chain. I work at a state park, remember. I deal with the food chain every time I'm there. But that doesn't mean I don't mourn each and every beautiful life that's lost.



man.... you really like mice eh? I like mice and all, but my philosophy is that I also love my snakes, and my rats, mice, and other living things are what they eat. I view a snake going for it's prey not with sadness... but fascination!

[Garter_Gertie]

Thanks, Zephie. Hope I don't have to get into this habit.

[jitami]

Great job Gertie :) I know it wasn't easy...

[reptile3]

I would be tired from all that too! I on the other hand... don't mind live pinkie, i had to give to my ball python a few times. The first time my Ball didn't want the pinkie, I couldn't throw it away, I fed it to my bearded dragon, who enjoyed that meal!

I know the pinkies look so cute, sweet, & look what we are doing. But our pets have to eat!

big hugs Gertie

[crzy_kevo]

well im glad you got your love fed mk and ya hopefully for your sake you dont have to do that again

[Hornets23]

I know how you feel gertie...I didnt want to give the snakes live one either. I can do frozen. I have some pet mice too. They are pretty adorable. Nice job getting past the hurdle.

[infernalis]

It is rather odd, I enjoy my mouse colonies. Every litter makes me smile.

I have to approach it the same way a farmer does his livestock, It's great to love "Sir Loin" and pat him on the nose. AND it's also great to have Sirloin done medium rare on a hardwood fire:eek:

[Lori P]

Gertie, well done!!! It is pretty amazing how we learn to move forward... my first time feeding a live pinky I bawled my head off (and shared it with everyone here!!!) You did good... snakey has to eat, after all.

Wayne, I am soooo with you! First time I raised a piggy "for the freezer" it was sooooooo hard... I backed down a dozen times from sending him up the road... and then finally just did it. And let me tell you, those chops were the best I'd ever tasted!!! Now I can love on them, spoil them, let them run around here and have a good life... and still look forward to those chops!!! LOL It's amazing how we can rationalize...

[Garter_Gertie]

Wanye, that's what I kept telling myself at TCR (Twin Cities Reptiles). I did the "I eat cows and they're raised to feed ME, and this is no different; this mouselette was bred just for fodd, blah, blah, blah."

Again, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

I think it's really a matter of me being the one to end the life. I can logically talk to myself on end, but...

Gotta tell ya! LOL!!! When Kenabec first went off feed I asked the owner of TCR and the breeder if I could just bring him in in his deli cup and have them "do it." No way would they let me, Kenabec had to be comfy, he had to feel secure, ad nausem.

I want a hobby farm. Yup. Lori, I'd decided long ago piggies would NOT be one of the animals I rasied as I couldn't eat a pet! LOL!!!

Thanks Kevie, Christa, Three and Tami. I do hope NEXT time Niizh will jump on a f/t as I don't want to have to go through that again. I totally am not adverse to feeding live and can understand there are some creatures that will never go over to f/t. I understand, I accept it. I do not feel it is wrong.

I just don't want to do it or have to see it!

But things do get easier - it's like going off the high dive for the first time... If push would come to shove, for Kenabec's sake, I'd do it again. I think. LOL!

[infernalis]

The first time I ever had to bonk an adult mouse, the poor animal suffered, I didn't really hit hard enough.

Hate to sound brutal, but I got it down now where the mouse never even feels a thing.

[reptile3]

The first time I ever had to bonk an adult mouse, the poor animal suffered, I didn't really hit hard enough.

Hate to sound brutal, but I got it down now where the mouse never even feels a thing.


How do you know it doesn't feel a thing?? Did it tell you that? just messing with you.
Wayne your awesome... the way you do things. :D

[Garter_Gertie]

Dekay, damn you! I could have gone the rest of my life NOT reading that!

It's not brutal, but why spill that? Knowing how I feel.

I love you, but you are one big BOOGER!


The first time I ever had to bonk an adult mouse, the poor animal suffered, I didn't really hit hard enough.

Hate to sound brutal, but I got it down now where the mouse never even feels a thing.

[Lori P]

Darn. I was just going to ask him his technique. lol Maybe you better pm it to me Wayne!!

[infernalis]

I was simply trying to be honest. My compassion for the mouse worked against me, I could not bring myself to hit it hard enough to be humane.

C02 chambers are OK if you mass produce, and or freeze them, but I have gotten used to feeding FK (freshly killed) prey, so it is more realistic to just thwack them.

I am getting spoiled on the frozen stuff though, and with the affordable shipping from Rodent Pro, I may just start selling my mice to the pet store, or sell off the whole colony.

It's a lot easier in many ways to just thaw and serve. and reality wise, cheaper. Mice feed, constant attention, etc... it's taxing, when really I'd rather spend that effort on my reptiles.