At 10:08 PM 8/10/00 +0100, Julian and Jackie wrote:
>Do you have any scientific evidence for this as I have never been able
>to find anything other than the views of snake keepers. I would prefer
>to identify these "rodents similar to gerbils".
No, just what I was told by snake keepers.
>I have read many ecology studies that routinely look at the stomach
>contents of predators to identify what the feed on. Snakes rarely eat
>rodents. Most rodents are nocturnal, and most snakes are diurnal, so the
>two tend not to meet. Snakes, in general, prefer to eat other reptiles
>and invertebrates. Maybe that is why the will not eat rats and mice?
Perhaps. Ball and red-tailed pythons were typically the animals gerbils
were purchased for. I'm sure you could find info on their diets
somewhere. I was also told that wild-caught snakes of these species were
nearly impossible to get switched onto rats and mice, but usually ate
gerbils just fine.
Michelle
Flutist
