Baby mouse/rat

Destben

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Hi please don’t make fun of me but my husband bought a feeder for our snake and she wouldn’t eat it. I don’t usually look at them because it breaks my heart. But oops to late now I have a fuzzy (age/stage of development) that I just can’t let him feed to our snake. I managed to get him to eat some puppy formula and am keeping him warm. Does anyone on this forum have any idea what I should do next??IMG_7825.jpg
 

Melis

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Ahhh I am a sucker for baby mice. I worked at a pet store where we would breed them, so I've seen lots of rejections. They need to be fed often. And depending on the age, have to be stimulated to go to the bathroom. I would always wet a qtip and wipe it on their bottoms. Good luck!
 

Destben

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Ahhh I am a sucker for baby mice. I worked at a pet store where we would breed them, so I've seen lots of rejections. They need to be fed often. And depending on the age, have to be stimulated to go to the bathroom. I would always wet a qtip and wipe it on their bottoms. Good luck!

I tried with warm water and a q tip but he’s still a little freaked out.
 

Destben

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Euthanize it and put it in the freezer until its time to feed the snake again. Then defrost it and feed it out. This would be the humane thing to do.

That baby is to young to be separated from its mother if it was intended to survive and grow up.

Tom I respect your opinion and i in no way want this baby to suffer even if that means that I have to feed him to my snake to put him out of his misery. But I am how ever going to try and give him a chance to live. This is exactly why I am not usually allowed to be around when the feeding is taking place and I know it is ridiculous that I care so much but I just have to try.
 

Destben

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Tom I respect your opinion and i in no way want this baby to suffer even if that means that I have to feed him to my snake to put him out of his misery. But I am how ever going to try and give him a chance to live. This is exactly why I am not usually allowed to be around when the feeding is taking place and I know it is ridiculous that I care so much but I just have to try.

If it ends badly then lesson learned
 

tortoiseplanet

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I understand your care as I really love animals too, but that is a bit extreme, It’s just a mouse. That is nature, mice are meant to be pray. You aren’t doing harm by feeding it to your snake. Mice are also a mess to keep and they are extremely unintelligent. Unintelligent animals don’t have feelings and they could care less about you. I know this sounds gross, but if you were dead, the mouse would have no problem eating you.
 

Tom

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Tom I respect your opinion and i in no way want this baby to suffer even if that means that I have to feed him to my snake to put him out of his misery. But I am how ever going to try and give him a chance to live. This is exactly why I am not usually allowed to be around when the feeding is taking place and I know it is ridiculous that I care so much but I just have to try.
You are not alone. Many people are that way.

Sometimes it is hard to know what is the most humane thing to do. I think this little guy will suffer at this age, but I understand your feelings and motivations.
 

Tom

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I wouldn’t even worry about “misery” for a mouse.
I don't agree. Not at all. Prey species, and food animals should always be treated with the utmost respect and dignity. Their welfare right up until the moment of humane euthanasia should be of paramount concern, and their lives and well being are just as important as the animals they are being fed to.

There is absolutely no excuse for mistreating food animals or allowing them to suffer. None.
 

Melis

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I wouldn’t even worry about “misery” for a mouse.
Out of curiosity, when would the worry of an animal in "misery" come into play for you? A rat? A rabbit? A ferret? A cat? If we talk about "feelings", turtles also don't have "feelings". I've grown up receiving grief from others for trying to save things that aren't worth saving. Always interesting to see where people draw the line.
 

wellington

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I understand your care as I really love animals too, but that is a bit extreme, It’s just a mouse. That is nature, mice are meant to be pray. You aren’t doing harm by feeding it to your snake. Mice are also a mess to keep and they are extremely unintelligent. Unintelligent animals don’t have feelings and they could care less about you. I know this sounds gross, but if you were dead, the mouse would have no problem eating you.
That is a bit extreme. It's a living thing and can feel pain just like you. The OP has a very big heart and I don't blame her. Reason I would never have any animal that has to be fed live animals. Bugs I can do.
When it comes to animals or any kind and someone's heart/feelings, little more tack would be more appropriate.
 

Destben

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You are not alone. Many people are that way.

Sometimes it is hard to know what is the most humane thing to do. I think this little guy will suffer at this age, but I understand your feelings and motivations.

I’m am doing all the research possible and got in contact with some breeders and they said he has a good chance but it’s going to be hard work. I’m keeping an eye on him for now but if he takes a turn for the worse I won’t make him suffer and will give him to my other snake. So far he has been fed and is sleeping comfortably. So I’m just hoping for the best.
 
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Destben

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That is a bit extreme. It's a living thing and can feel pain just like you. The OP has a very big heart and I don't blame her. Reason I would never have any animal that has to be fed live animals. Bugs I can do.
When it comes to animals or any kind and someone's heart/feelings, little more tack would be more appropriate.

The snakes are my husbands for this reason I am a big baby about this stuff. Luckily my tort eats veggies.
 

wellington

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Tom I respect your opinion and i in no way want this baby to suffer even if that means that I have to feed him to my snake to put him out of his misery. But I am how ever going to try and give him a chance to live. This is exactly why I am not usually allowed to be around when the feeding is taking place and I know it is ridiculous that I care so much but I just have to try.
Don't feel silly at all. I'm with you. I couldn't do it either. I have to be really mad at the mice that lives in my shed to set traps for them. Like when they become to big in numbers. I even will be trying to trap them and save them at the same time. They either have to die a very quick death or they are allowed to live. If they didn't invade my torts shed, I wouldn't bother with them at all.
 

Tom

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Out of curiosity, when would the worry of an animal in "misery" come into play for you? A rat? A rabbit? A ferret? A cat? If we talk about "feelings", turtles also don't have "feelings". I've grown up receiving grief from others for trying to save things that aren't worth saving. Always interesting to see where people draw the line.

@Destben ,

@Melis raises an interesting question that I think is worthy of discussion on an animal husbandry forum, such as this one. Is it okay with you to philosophically explore and discuss this topic on your thread? It would be fine for us to start a new thread if you would rather not have this discussion on your thread.
 

Destben

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Don't feel silly at all. I'm with you. I couldn't do it either. I have to be really mad at the mice that lives in my shed to set traps for them. Like when they become to big in numbers. I even will be trying to trap them and save them at the same time. They either have to die a very quick death or they are allowed to live. If they didn't invade my torts shed, I wouldn't bother with them at all.

It’s understandable and I’m not against snakes eating or anything but he would have been waisted either way. And who could resist this faceIMG_7832.jpgIMG_7828.jpg
 

Destben

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@Destben ,

@Melis raises an interesting question that I think is worthy of discussion on an animal husbandry forum, such as this one. Is it okay with you to philosophically explore and discuss this topic on your thread? It would be fine for us to start a new thread if you would rather not have this discussion on your thread.

I don’t mind at all
 

tortoiseplanet

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I don't agree. Not at all. Prey species, and food animals should always be treated with the utmost respect and dignity. Their welfare right up until the moment of humane euthanasia should be of paramount concern, and their lives and well being are just as important as the animals they are being fed to.

There is absolutely no excuse for mistreating food animals or allowing them to suffer. None.

I did not mean saying to torture the animal is right. But feeding it live to an animal isn’t something to be ashamed of, as that’s how it is in nature.
 

Destben

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I did not mean saying to torture the animal is right. But feeding it live to an animal isn’t something to be ashamed of, as that’s how it is in nature.

I agree and he was put in the tank with the snake but she had never had a live mouse before (thanks petsmart) and my husband wanted to try. After the snake had no interest I had to give in to the impulse to try and save the little one.
 
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