Force Feeding Ball Python

[nyx]

Originally Posted by Chris72

If the animal actually dies in the store then there is a chance someone in management becomes aware of that. Perhaps after the 5th time they kill a python management at that store will stick to easy feeding high turnover animals.

But if every time they bring a snake to the edge of deaths door....it's adopted...

...they are always going to replace that animal ASAP.

I don't know if you quite know how capitalism works. If a pet store spends $20 to bulk-buy that ball (likely) and it is given away for adoption, the store has not only lost $20, it has lost all the manpower, supplies, and time spent on the animal. Now, if it can sell that animal, it will definitely not learn its lesson - since the new owner will lose the snake and then possibly come back for another one.

It is not likely to make a difference one way or another if you adopt this animal, to the pet store, at any rate. I am surprised how many people are telling you not to take it home; it isn't difficult to start a slow feeder if you have access to live prey (which normally I abhor, but better live prey than a dead snake). What I would be worried about: crypto, mites, IBD, giardia, etc. However, I think they are not very likely and, with quarantine, you could reduce that risk considerably.

The animal is probably not eating because it's in a pet store. Get it into a proper environment with appropriate heat and humidity, offer it a slightly smaller prey item to begin with, and it will probably go just fine.

[Chris72]

Originally Posted by nyx

I don't know if you quite know how capitalism works. If a pet store spends $20 to bulk-buy that ball (likely) and it is given away for adoption, the store has not only lost $20, it has lost all the manpower, supplies, and time spent on the animal. Now, if it can sell that animal, it will definitely not learn its lesson - since the new owner will lose the snake and then possibly come back for another one.............

It does not matter to me in any way, shape, or form if you "don't quite know if I know how capitalism works". Further, the remainder of your response makes little sense and goes in two different directions. If you have another viewpoint I would hope you could find a way to express that without being derogatory.

Regardless, just as you were kind enough to point out; if the store continues to shrink stock on $20 dollar animals (with related time, materials, etc) it is well within reason that at a certain level of loss Vs sales the management may eventually see that stocking ball pythons is not a worthwhile use of funds, cage display space, hourly wage, etc.

In management there are measurable on that sort of thing and, typically, that is what drives planning on stock for the future.

The idea that the new owner of the very sick animal would go right back to that store to spend money for another is frightening. We can only hope that would not happen. (ie - Supporting a shop that takes such poor care of their animals)

This conversation is starting to circle.