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summer_jackelOK, this may be snake TMI, but, well, I have a pet python, snakes eat rats and I, in fact, feed him. If that causes squickage, you may pass now, but I found this warped and funny so I'm sharing...
I picked him up a frozen rat today. Usually, I get a live one and kill it for him if he dosen't make an immediate strike; Delphi is a rather timid eater. Frozen vs. live is a big debate in snake circles, btw; frozen is safer (rats will often bite and even kill a snake, and freezing kills any bad germs it might have); live allows them to indulge their instinct to hunt and stimulates the prey drive of occasionally unenthusiastic eaters like Del. Frozen proponents also claim that it is kinder to the prey rodent, but I am skeptical; Del kills very quickly (and so do I), moreso, I imagine, than being flash-frozen.
But anyhow, I was at PetSmart today, they had frozen, Del needed feeding, so I got him one. This is the first *commercially packaged* dead rat I've ever bought, and it gave me LOLs. This product was called "gourmet rodent." (As opposed to bargain rodent, for working class snakes?) and came in a little purple pastel bag printed with green mice; very eastery. There were instructions printed on the back, 2 of which are worth sharing.
The first was, appropriately in bold, 'Do Not Microwave.' Oh, Amen to that. Seriously folks, I tried that once, and after law school it is one of the stupidist decisions I've ever made. No, no, oh hell no, don't ever ever ever microwave a dead rat. I'm really ok with many very disgusting things; I scavenge road kill, after all, and I've smelled all manner of badness, so trust me when I say this one is in a league of its own. When packaging tells you not to microwave a frozen rat, baby, you'd better listen.
The last instruction was, "not for human consumption."
I don't think I have anything to say about that.
I picked him up a frozen rat today. Usually, I get a live one and kill it for him if he dosen't make an immediate strike; Delphi is a rather timid eater. Frozen vs. live is a big debate in snake circles, btw; frozen is safer (rats will often bite and even kill a snake, and freezing kills any bad germs it might have); live allows them to indulge their instinct to hunt and stimulates the prey drive of occasionally unenthusiastic eaters like Del. Frozen proponents also claim that it is kinder to the prey rodent, but I am skeptical; Del kills very quickly (and so do I), moreso, I imagine, than being flash-frozen.
But anyhow, I was at PetSmart today, they had frozen, Del needed feeding, so I got him one. This is the first *commercially packaged* dead rat I've ever bought, and it gave me LOLs. This product was called "gourmet rodent." (As opposed to bargain rodent, for working class snakes?) and came in a little purple pastel bag printed with green mice; very eastery. There were instructions printed on the back, 2 of which are worth sharing.
The first was, appropriately in bold, 'Do Not Microwave.' Oh, Amen to that. Seriously folks, I tried that once, and after law school it is one of the stupidist decisions I've ever made. No, no, oh hell no, don't ever ever ever microwave a dead rat. I'm really ok with many very disgusting things; I scavenge road kill, after all, and I've smelled all manner of badness, so trust me when I say this one is in a league of its own. When packaging tells you not to microwave a frozen rat, baby, you'd better listen.
The last instruction was, "not for human consumption."
I don't think I have anything to say about that.
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no subject
Date: 2008-05-27 09:55 pm (UTC)I feed Emmy "pre killed' now, as I don't have the space to store frozen rodents, and the water waste of defrosting one is prohibitive here in dry SoCal. I rarely feed her live, except when she needs a "jump start" after the winter, but that hasn't been an issue since moving here.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 05:52 pm (UTC)Heh, I only got it because Petco was next to the grocery store and in the interest of efficiency I got my shopping and Delphi's done at the same time.
Also, awwww, Emmy. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 06:08 pm (UTC)I can select the rats too, so I can look for ones that aren't obviously sick. However, frozen is a bit better, as internal pathogens are generally killed off by that process. However, frozen rodents aren't really a viable option for me, so I do the next best thing.
Emmy hasn't demonstrated any ill effect from her two-years of pre-killed feedings.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 02:02 am (UTC)I get my mousicles from a local wholesaler, who actually makes housecalls, so they come 25 or 50 to a plain, clear, ziplock baggie, not individually wrapped.
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Date: 2008-05-28 05:48 pm (UTC)heh...that's how I'm used to getting them, in ziplock baggies. :P
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Date: 2008-05-28 02:05 am (UTC)All mice and rats etc... are euthanized with C02 then frozen. It is quicker that a snake strike. They could care less in indulgence. It is the instinct to strike at the smell and the heat that comes off of it.
But yes.. you do get some silly shit written on bags..why? cause you know ppl have tried it out! *yuck*
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Date: 2008-05-28 05:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 02:40 am (UTC)The last instruction was, "not for human consumption."
(:in heavy Romanian accent) "Rrrrenfield, you foooool! Do not eat that! It is forrr my snaaaake!"
"Sorry master, sorry..." (grovel-grovel)
no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 05:51 pm (UTC)ROFL!
Date: 2008-05-31 11:59 pm (UTC)Re: ROFL!
Date: 2008-06-02 03:24 am (UTC)