[sagehen]

A friend of mine has an 8 foot burmese python, and a couple of cornsnakes and a pair of leopard geckos ( I think that's what they are  ) Weird looking things. She also keeps guinea pigs in a shed for the snakes, and buys frozen rats. I told her she's quite welcome to come and catch the rats here!

[Dangermouse]

A friend of mine has an 8 foot burmese python, and a couple of cornsnakes and a pair of leopard geckos ( I think that's what they are  ) Weird looking things. She also keeps guinea pigs in a shed for the snakes, and buys frozen rats. I told her she's quite welcome to come and catch the rats here!

Burms are a little on the big side for me, she should breed her own rats its really easy (but a bit stinky)

[MiriMaran]

I used to work in a zoo with 2 15ft Burmese Pythons and a big Boa.  On my first day I was told that the reason my predecessor left was that one of the Pythons swallowed her arm!!!  Whether the story was true or not I don't know, but I went into the Snake House with some trepidation.  We bred rabbits and chickens for them.  I loved the Pythons, but their coils were so heavy to push out of the way when I was trying to clean around them.

[Dangermouse]

I used to work in a zoo with 2 15ft Burmese Pythons and a big Boa.  On my first day I was told that the reason my predecessor left was that one of the Pythons swallowed her arm!!!  Whether the story was true or not I don't know, but I went into the Snake House with some trepidation.  We bred rabbits and chickens for them.  I loved the Pythons, but their coils were so heavy to push out of the way when I was trying to clean around them.

Its very possible for a big burm to swallow your arm,it couldnt bite it off but it would take some getting off.

They are a a bit of a handfull when they are fully grown thats for sure

[sagehen]

  I hope they were just winding you up MiriMaran! They are very heavy, but apparently quite affectionate (?). I like snakes but not too keen on the idea of a Burmese python winding around me to show affection.

Dangermouse, my friend wouldn't want to breed rats - she doesn't like them very much, hence the guinea pigs for the snakes instead!

[Dangermouse]

I hope they were just winding you up MiriMaran! They are very heavy, but apparently quite affectionate (?). I like snakes but not too keen on the idea of a Burmese python winding around me to show affection.

Dangermouse, my friend wouldn't want to breed rats - she doesn't like them very much, hence the guinea pigs for the snakes instead!

Rats are not everyones cup of tea for sure but they are very affectionate little beasties honest.....

[sagehen]

*shudder* 

[Dangermouse]

*shudder* 

See no one loves my wee beasties 

[ballingall]

My neice used to have pet rats and they are quite affectionate. Domestic ones are fine.

Beth

[Dangermouse]

My neice used to have pet rats and they are quite affectionate. Domestic ones are fine.

Beth

Thanks Beth, see on people like ratties (they do make superb pets for kiddies)

[sagehen]

It's something to do with their tails, for me, anyway. It's that thick bit where it's attached to their bodies, ugh! We found a recently dead one under the boards, that were meant to be put up as a shed, and it measured 17 inches from head to tail, and part of the tail was gone anyway. Gah, it was horrible  For some of us, it's a racial memory from when rats were plague carriers.

[Dangermouse]

It's something to do with their tails, for me, anyway. It's that thick bit where it's attached to their bodies, ugh! We found a recently dead one under the boards, that were meant to be put up as a shed, and it measured 17 inches from head to tail, and part of the tail was gone anyway. Gah, it was horrible  For some of us, it's a racial memory from when rats were plague carriers.

I would still reccomend not getting too close to wild rats dead or alive, they carry some nasty dieseases for sure. Domestic pet rats are much cleaner but you still need to be aware that they can carry dieseases

[sagehen]

I know! There was that lady who died from Weil's disease a couple of years ago (in the news) - she was trying to release a rat that got caught in something, and got a scratch off it's claws, and died within the week  All she had were flu-like symptoms, and then went downhill pretty fast  I like hamsters and guinea pigs and chinchillas - they're rodents too, so I suppose there's hope for me yet, when it comes to domestic rats! 

[Dangermouse]

I know! There was that lady who died from Weil's disease a couple of years ago (in the news) - she was trying to release a rat that got caught in something, and got a scratch off it's claws, and died within the week  All she had were flu-like symptoms, and then went downhill pretty fast  I like hamsters and guinea pigs and chinchillas - they're rodents too, so I suppose there's hope for me yet, when it comes to domestic rats! 

If your ever down my way ill sort you out a nice pretty one for a pet 

[sagehen]

Deal!