>At 10:08 PM 8/10/00 +0100, Julian and Jackie wrote: >>I have read many ecology studies that routinely look at the stomach >>contents of predators to identify what the feed on. Snakes rarely eat >>rodents. Most rodents are nocturnal, and most snakes are diurnal, I think it depends onthe location and the species or rodents and snakes. I do know that in the states anoles are often sold beside rats, mice and gerbils as "feeder lizards". Ive also learned via the herb groups that at least with certain snakes, if they stop eating rodents they can be switched back to them by "scenting" them with an anole lizard (I will spare the list the gory details on what that entails). rats and mice are easier for peopel to reproduce and raise to the desired size which is probably why they are the food of choice. Although snakes often eat eggs in the wild too i think peopel avoid that due to fears about salmonella. I also know a number of snake owners with the larger snakes that buy/raise rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and quayle for snake food. I even knew one person who fed their snake baby kittens they'd get via "free to good homes" ads1 I have a ratsnake and he readily eats any kind of rodent. This works good for us because I dont want to kill any of our rodents for food... I use still borns and natural (genetic, age or injury related) deaths to feed him. Whats "available" always changes becuase we breed different species of rodents- rats, mice, gerbils, 2 species of hamsters, dormice, spiny mice, etc. He has never refused anything. He'd probably eat carrots too if we gave him that lol (he is spoiled to take food from a spoon). AG ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
