Posted on 10/05/2005 11:07:35 AM PDT by Pessimist
A python's eyes were apparently bigger than its stomach.
Scientists in Florida are puzzling over a Burmese python that scarfed down a six-foot alligator before its stomach ruptured.
They found the carcasses in an isolated part of Florida's Everglades National Park. Photos show the gator's hind legs and tail sticking out of the 13-foot snake's ruptured gut.
The Miami Herald reported that scientists can't figure out how the snake got the critter down. The snake's head is also missing.
Experts say the clash is interesting, but it also shows the exotic snakes are competing with gators to top the food chain in the Everglades.
Park biologist Skip Snow said he's documented 156 python captures in the last two years.
"No, dem Fokkers vass Messerschmitts."
(Punch line of an old joke < ]B^)
The ball python has worked out well. They are really very docile, only eat about once every ten days, handle well, and spend almost all their time hiding.
The biggest challenge is keeping a proper temperature range in the environment, as they are prone to respiratory infections if it gets too cold. But setting up the environment is not hard if you do a little research. The Internet is full of good info on keeping pet ball pythons.
One bit of advice, do NOT buy one from a pet store. Much better to get a captive bred one from a breeder, who can provide documentation that the animal is a good feeder (wild caught specimens are notoriously poor eaters and tend to have parasites and other health problems). A normal colored juvenile ball will cost between $50 and $75, and plan on spending around $150 for the environment.
Of course, a five year-old is too young to be able to care for a ball python. So plan on doing the feeding and cleaning the cage (every 4-6 weeks, typically right after a shed) yourself for a few years.
I prefer to feed ours thawed frozen pre-killed mice. But the sad fact is that in spite of promises, our pet store has not been able to keep a reliable supply. So on more than one occasion, I have had to buy a live one and kill it myself, which I hate to do. I long ago learned a technique that makes it very quick and relatively painless for the mouse, but it's much better to get frozen. There are places you can order them in bulk online, if you have the freezer space.
So think about that before you buy. They can live for 20 years or more in captivity. So be sure you are ready to make the commitment, as full grown ones (average length 3-5 feet at adulthood) can be tough to find homes for.
If you have any questions or need any advice, feel free to freepmail me. I'll be happy to share the benefit of my experience with you (this is not the first snake I've owned).
My Dad (Lt. Commander in WWII NAvy and his P51 pilot used to talk the walk in WWII. They used "combat speak" that I never understood. As a child, I always repected my elders who served in combat. When my brother served in 'Nam as an evac pilot, he never discusses his missions, even though I ask him about his decorations. To this day, my brother, Bill does not discuss his missions. He turned his focuss to the private sector, and builds commercial heliports.
This may be just a chick thing, but what I see is the potential for a lot of snazzy-looking shoes and designer handbags. I wonder if they slice me off a hunk of each dead critter and ship it to me so I can design my own. ;)
Did I hear some say gumbo?
I actually own that book, but my mom used to say things like that (Never eat anything bigger than your head) from the time I was little - which is why I decided to grow my head to truly gigantic proportions.
bump
Oh thank you for those links!!! That brought back a few childhood memories! :o)
Disembowelagator
The Full Monty.....
Ralph............. expecting some help from the community with the upcoming sextuplets.
No-one's ever called me that before!
Evolution? 
My mother still serves biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon, sausage or ham, sometimes grits (I put sugar and butter on grits and eat them like cereal and mom almost has heart failure) or oatmeal. Sometimes she fries up apples to go along with the biscuits and gravy. And she watches how much I eat too. If I weren't so sick from last night's dinner, I'd be hungry now after talking about the good food.
Can you tell me where you got this image? Thanks ahead of time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.