snake muzzle pics - Page 2

Kevin_Letts · 04-25-07, 06:18 PM

While I can definitely apreciate a different opinion or perspective on this, it still seems too unatural for me. Yes I am aware that kings are quite agressive when breeding, but that is natural and to be expected when breeding them together/with each other.
And no I am not opposed to hybrids either, i've got a group of them here. Yes I am aware that electrical tape is not that sticky, but why would you even consider risking it with a snake. As stated earlier, there are many other ways to get them to breed. Perhaps trying either a different male or female could possibly get something going. That way there is no muzzle or tape involved, and the snakes are much much better off too...

couple cents from me...

Kevin

**cornspot** · 04-25-07, 07:00 PM

Thanks for everyone's input. I didn't feel that the tape was a risk at all--it's not sticky enough to cause any harm.

Was the cali stressed? Yes, but so was my corn when she bit his head. I wanted to try something new & felt the "muzzle" was a way to keep me and my corn safe without hurting the kingsnake.

As far as being natural, I don't think captive snake breeding in general is natural.

I don't feel what I did was abusive, but if a lot of other people do then maybe I am wrong? More opinins are welcome!

Scottsquatch · 04-25-07, 09:55 PM

I guess I must be cruel or abusive natured as well, because I thought the muzzle was a pretty good idea. I'm sure the male corn appreciated not getting bit in the head again in his quest for nookie as well! LOL. Anyway, I too agree that electrical tape would probably be pretty much harmless, especially if it was removed carefully (which I'm sure it was). keep up with the ingenuity and don't let the nay-sayers out there get you down.

Regards,
Scott

**desertanimal** · 04-25-07, 11:44 PM

Snakes eating F/T rodents isn't natural either. I can see protesting this based on concerns for the safety of the snake or for not stressing her out, but not based on it not being natural.

Most everything we do with and about our pets isn't natural.

Gonna go feed my un-natural canine (pit bull/hound mix) some un-natural dog food now!

Kevin_Letts · 04-26-07, 12:55 AM

I was actually not going to reply anymore to this thread, I felt I had stated my stance on it. However people are taking my posts way out of context here, so I feel I must "clarify" myself unfortunately. When I said "unatural", I was simply talking about the fact that the snake had to be taped up and muzzled to breed. That is extremely unatural, to anybody. That was basically my one and only concern with this issue. Feeding f/t, housed in bins, breeding in bins, and other such husbandry practices are extremely unatural for these animals as well. Yet we all still do this, or at least the majority do with larger collections (we being one of them). However we choose to keep these as pets, therefor they should be respected as pets, and not forced into a muzzle to breed with something, if it is unwilling to begin with. As stated before and before, there are many other ways to succeed in this task, rather than taping an animal into a defenseless position.
Were the parents of the pitbull hound cross tied down to breed? And if so, would you not consider that to be cruel just to get something to breed?

Also just to help out some, and really not wanting this to continue in the direction it is going. Some advice would be to google the names Bluerosy or Yasser. They have both done tons of hybradizing of species, and make some incredible animals.
Good luck with everybody's future projects, and hope you all get healthy babies...

That is all...

Kevin

**Dionythicus** · 04-26-07, 01:20 AM

I wonder if using the non-sticky, stick-to-itself tape they use when you get your blood drawn would work as well without anything sticky at all being attached to the snake. I may play with that just to see if it would work. Perhaps a mini E collar, like they put on dogs and cats, would be as effective to keep the head surrounded but not actually "bound".

**Carol** · 04-26-07, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by Kevin Letts

Were the parents of the pitbull hound cross tied down to breed? And if so, would you not consider that to be cruel just to get something to breed?

Actually, it is pretty standard practice to put a "breeding hobble" on some fiesty mares so they can not kick/hurt/discourage the stallion. I have also heard of some aggressive female dogs having to be muzzled during breeding sessons. "Tied down" and muzzled are two completely different things. Muzzling or otherwise restraining a female so she doesn't do damage to the male is practiced in a LOT of animal breeding hobbies. Not natural, but sometimes "natural" is even more unpleasant. FWIW.

Lore · 04-26-07, 01:27 AM

I know my husband needs to be muzzled quite often...

**desertanimal** · 04-26-07, 01:30 AM

As an only slightly off-topic point, there are also interesting things done in animal husbandry to KEEP animals from reproducing. I was told that the development of the IUD started in camel husbandry--they put rocks in the camels' uteruses to prevent conception.

**cornspot** · 04-26-07, 12:00 PM

Thanks again for all the replies; I really do want to hear others' prospectives on this.

Those who are opposed to the whole muzzle thing, I still feel I was adding to the safety of the male snake (& myself b/c this king will bite) without harming the female snake, but I'm not out to change your opinion.

For those who have an issue with the tape thing, this was seriously low tack dollar store electrical tape. It barely sticks to itself. I've used better quality electrical tape for wrapping wires; I would never use this stuff for that. I did buy it for that purpose but had to go get better stuff. Anyway, there was no chance of it hurting my snake or I wouldn't have used it.