life or death profit or pet

[suthernsnail]

this is to all the snake breeders on this forum. i took 2 snakes to the vet today 1 king 4-5yo & 1 corn 4-5 yo both egg bound the corn was bred with her mate and did deliver some eggs but left about 4-5 behind inside her. the king was never bred so all hers were slugs she laid one but the next one the doc pushed out was humungus!! then he couldn't manipulate the rest. he gave both snakes a shot to cause contractions and gave both an antibacterial shot as some infection was present. he says chances are good thatthe same could happen next yr also which means every yr there is a good chance for a high vet bill. if the eggs don't move on down this time from the injection then it's a choice of a $400.00-$500.00 surgery to remove them or euthanize the snakes where does a beginning breeder draw the line between pets and breeders?need oppinions please thank you

 

[MegF.]

I think it's a personal choice. If you truly can't afford it, you'll need to euthanize. If your snakes are going to have slugs even if not bred, there isn't much you can do. I think there are those out there who have had females they had surgery on do fine later.

 

[Arcanefate]

May I ask? Is it because the females are too thin this year? Or do they have underlying problems that will cause them to always get egg bound?

Personally, I would not want any snake to suffer. So, if debating because the price is too high or whether or not they will be useful to you as breeders, that is completely up to you. I would just say not to wait to long to make that decision.

As for myself, I unfortunately would most likely have it euthanized. Not so much because I could not use it as a breeder, but because I would not want to risk a recurrence. I am also flooded with too many "just pets" and I would not be able to take on many more. Therefore I would be stuck giving it away. And to me, I just don't feel right giving away an animal to someone else that has any problems that would make it a burden to others. I would also be too afraid that the person I gave it to would not heed my advice and would try to breed her anyway.

 

[Marina-m2]

I think it's a personal choice. If you truly can't afford it, you'll need to euthanize.

Are you insane??? Kill something just for the sake of it. If i couldn't afford it i would give them to someone who could!! Vets can be and are often wrong!!

Marina

 

[sfaoldguy]

This sounds to me to be a business decision... Give the snakes to someone quickly if they will pay for them to have surgery... If not, euthanize them and buy new snakes with the cash saved... The cost of surgery is too hi with too many risks such as them not being able to reproduce in the future...

I plan on breeding this coming year and if anything of this nature arises, I have already decided what I will do and that is to euthanize them... I have my pet snake and would quickly spend the money on him because he is my pet and not for money...

 

[cornsnakekid92]

Well, if the snakes make it through it this time, i would not breed again!

 

[Snowfyre]

I had two snakes get eggbound temporarily and I bought a snake that had prolapsed last year. This year the eggbound snakes laid eggs successfully and the prolapsed snake did too. I was told that some people think its lack of exercise. And when I bought the prolapsed snake I stuck her and the two snakes that got eggbound in a good sized cage next to my house heat source. They were MUCH more active and fed more often due to the activity. Constantly climbing. Sometimes there is no choice. And sometimes a little positive thinking is all that's needed.

 

[xXMetalsAngelXx]

Well for one the whole "business decision" thing...that is insane, they are not a business they are living breathing things. I love every single one of my snakes and if there was a way to fix the problem I would do it in a heartbeat, I would refuse to put any one of my snakes down over something that can be treated, WHY? because they are animals and NOT a business decision!

 

[xXMetalsAngelXx]

This sounds to me to be a business decision... Give the snakes to someone quickly if they will pay for them to have surgery... If not, euthanize them and buy new snakes with the cash saved... The cost of surgery is too hi with too many risks such as them not being able to reproduce in the future...

I plan on breeding this coming year and if anything of this nature arises, I have already decided what I will do and that is to euthanize them... I have my pet snake and would quickly spend the money on him because he is my pet and not for money...

I'm sorry but this is by far the most horrible thing I've heard on this board! Every animal u have should be treated as a pet and loved as one and for you as a human being to call them what u did? u shouldn't be breeding

 

[suthernsnail]

I Checked on the kingsnake this morning still no slugs laid. i haven't talked to my daughter yet about her cornsnake. this really sucks big time. some of you replied back to just give her away and tell the people she can't breed . that makes no difference a snake does not need to be with a male to produce slugs she wasn't with a male this yr. i could give her away then have the same thing happen again next yr. only they may not take her to the vet then she'll die a slow and agonizing death and that is in humane, not euthanizing. and also surgery is very risky buiseness for a reptile she may die during or after the surgery they are such complex creatures. i thought if these eggs came out on their own i may look into having her spaid but again that is a surgery and is hard on a reptile . i'm not even sure if a snake can be spaid i know iguanas can.i will keep ya'll posted thanks for input gail

 

[mike17l]

Well for one the whole "business decision" thing...that is insane, they are not a business they are living breathing things. I love every single one of my snakes and if there was a way to fix the problem I would do it in a heartbeat, I would refuse to put any one of my snakes down over something that can be treated, WHY? because they are animals and NOT a business decision!

If I raised beef cattle and had a momma cow that consistently did not take care of her calf, or had consistently underweight calves, of threw stillborn calves, she would be on the first trailer to the slaughter house, unless of course she happened to be the very first animal I ever bottlefed and raised on my own, then I would consider her a pet and retire her from breeding. I personally do not own cattle, but know many that do and this is their mentality. It is the same concept with many who breed snakes. Most do not breed to make money, but breed to maintain and build their collection. When an animal is not pulling its own weight and supporting itself, many times the best option is euthanasia.

 

[diamondlil]

The snake's future health and welfare have to be assessed too, if it will produce slugs and get eggbound again, is it right to save it, or better to euthanise?
Each person has their own set of personal circumstances too, I was able to put in the time and effort to save Lil, but if I was a breeder with other hatchlings to raise, I would most likely have a kingsnake to have fed her to. This is not cruelty, it's realism, and abusing other forum members with hard decisions to make isn't particularly helpful, imo

 

[MegF.]

Unfortunately, how much to spend in order to save your animal IS something you have to think of. As much as I love my snakes,the reality is I most likely would not spend thousands to POSSIBLY save them. It just isn't practical. If I were made of money, you bet, I'd try all of it, but unfortunately I'm not. Also, if saving them leaves them open for more of this stressful and painful condition you would not be doing them a favor. Also, the value of the snake does come into it as well. Besides being pets that I love, the snakes are also a small business. If I spend $3000 on a cornsnake that may produce babies that are selling for $30 and there's a good chance she wouldn't be able to do that safely, no, it would not happen. Now, if you have one that produces babies that are worth thousands, it might be worth it to do it. The bigger question is...will this happen continuously and put the animals at risk further or is this a one time deal.

 

[bitsy]

Snakes can be given an injection to prevent them from ovulating. However, that would cost money at the vet and needs a booster around December/January each year, so not sure if that is an option for you.

Don't know the name of the drug, but it's the one they give to parrots and budgies to prevent them laying infertile eggs. Dose is calculated by weight, as I understand it.

My vet did it for an older female Corn of mine who kept laying clutches of infertile eggs even though she was in poor health and not mated. Worked like a dream - she never ovulated and suffered no side-effects. This was the first time he'd used it on a smaller snake. He said that he normally uses the technique for larger boids.

 

[TandJ]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MegF.
I think it's a personal choice. If you truly can't afford it, you'll need to euthanize.




Are you insane??? Kill something just for the sake of it. If i couldn't afford it i would give them to someone who could!! Vets can be and are often wrong!!

Marina

The snake's future health and welfare have to be assessed too, if it will produce slugs and get eggbound again, is it right to save it, or better to euthanise?
Each person has their own set of personal circumstances too, I was able to put in the time and effort to save Lil, but if I was a breeder with other hatchlings to raise, I would most likely have a kingsnake to have fed her to. This is not cruelty, it's realism, and abusing other forum members with hard decisions to make isn't particularly helpful, imo

Well said Lil.. Perhaps Marina can take note of your post..

Its not an issue that the majority of us love our animals here. We all want to do the correct and proper thing for them, and to be called insane for doing what we thing might be the best for our animal and ourselves is kind of nutty and out there and likely hypocritical.. If I cannot afford to take care of the animals medical bills, I do think the animal deserves the right of dignity, and I think I deserve the right to do the dignity justice the way I see fit for my animal and it would not be for the sake of it, it would be the best.. You have posted your view and I have posted mine.. Please don't be bothered to call me insane or unusually cruel because of my personal decision, because I can hear you yelling at my post while your reading it on your moniter..

Regards.. Tim of T and J

 

[rockmonky]

Its not an issue that the majority of us love our animals here. We all want to do the correct and proper thing for them, and to be called insane for doing what we thing might be the best for our animal and ourselves is kind of nutty and out there and likely hypocritical.. If I cannot afford to take care of the animals medical bills, I do think the animal deserves the right of dignity, and I think I deserve the right to do the dignity justice the way I see fit for my animal and it would not be for the sake of it, it would be the best.. You have posted your view and I have posted mine.. Please don't be bothered to call me insane or unusually cruel because of my personal decision, because I can hear you yelling at my post while your reading it on your moniter..

Regards.. Tim of T and J

Haha Tim I get ur point and everyones I just got erked at that guy for some reason or another, yeah I understand it could be for the better of the animal but I guess I'm just one of those breeders that loves every single one of my snakes with a passion, LoL there's been so many times I haven't had food but you better believe the freezer had enough for the snakes and the hatchlings. I can understand the buisness aspect to a degree, but just because the snake can't reproduce or has problems reproducing is no reason to euthanize it. It can still be a pet regaurdess of the situation.

But yeah there's my two cents on that.

 

[xXMetalsAngelXx]

Sorry that was me, the bf didn't log off his account what a surprise haha.

 

[suthernsnail]

thank you for that info i will concider that option if she pushes these slugs out. do you by any chance know how long it takes for the hormone injection to work if it's going to. the vet said call him back tomorrow so i guess that would be the time limit 3 days. she still hasn't pushed any out i really wish she would .

 

[suthernsnail]

i happen to like all my snakes also and i particularly am very fond of this kingsnake because of her sweet temparment. do i want to euthanize her ? NO! but i may not have any other option so don't piss me off with your words until you walk in my shoes with my animals. when you are up against an obsurd vet bill and surgery bills of your own and a costly trip for the death of a loved one then lets see what choice you choose. for those of you that are supportive of what ever decision i make thank you because yes this snake and all my snakes are pets whether they produce or not but i'm taking into concideration her wellbeing and my financial state.