"different"

[butters]

How is that patently untrue? Even a so called "clean" colony will have parasites of some description. Certain parasites will possibly be in even higher numbers than for the same species living a feral existance through no other reason than the constant contact and higher density of animals in close proximity.

The important part is whether those parasites are worth worrying about and can be passed on to your animals.

Will a feeder have parasites? Almost certainly.

Will it cause any harm to your animal?
Depends on the parasite. As you noted many are species specific or need another intermediate host or set of circumstances to complete the cycle but at the end of the day the feeder still has parasites.
Just not ones you need to worry about.

 

[python_dan89]

its good to no, i thought you where not aloud. cheers

 

[cris]

the scary ones are the ones like crypto, which after your snake is infected there is no treatment. infectious to

I have seen birds carrying Cryptoblepharus, but how could they harm a python?

 

[Snakeluvver2]

When I had several Carpet Pythons in an outdoor aviary, the only thing I fed them was wild caught mynah's and pigeons.

An easy bird trap - get a crab pot, pour some bird seed in and the pigeons and mynahs will do the rest. Works very well.

My next weekend project

 

[Helikaon]

Cryptosporidium, causes gastric hypertrophy and death. no current treatment works, though some have said they have had success with hyper immune colostrum given orally. but this is debateable

 

[Pythoninfinite]

They'll get cryptosporidium from the faeces of infected reptiles, and water with the organism in it, unlikely from food animals - the various crypto species. Crypto in birds and humans won't infect reptiles.

 

[Laghairt]

I'm not sure about birds but there are some exotic species that are protected, but generally your statemment would be true.

Hey waruikazi, what exotic species are protected?

 

[Helikaon]

thats incorrect, crypto is mainly spread from food items, rats and mice mainly in snakes. it can then be spread from snake to snake through contamination, faeces and the likes.

 

[Helikaon]

sorry a bit more info
thats not entirely correct, crypto is also spread from food items, rats and mice mainly in snakes. the 'strain' does not affect the mice or rats, but will infect the reptile. but yes you are right between reptiles is the main route of transmission. funnily enough it is possible for a unhygenic reptile keeper to become infected with a strain of crypto by feeding wild birds. as in a similar case the reptiles will not be affected by the strain but will pass infective oocysts which we can catch, if its the right strain.

 

[Omgitschris]

hypothetically speaking, if i captured a few mynah birds - and euthanize them, would freezing them kill the parasites and bacteria that would be harmful to my snakes ? and if not is there any other way i could sterilize the birds so their not a potentially life threatening meal ?
I'd like to see the population of these pests in my area decline and would like dispose of the birds and make use of them afterwards.

 

[lowbreeds]

i feed my 8-9ft carpet mainly on wild caught pidgeons from the backyard. always fed live or freshly killed (refuses frozen food) its a solid healthy snake and ive never had a problem with it becoming sick. its pretty easy to tell if a bird is not healthy if u have a look at it. if its looking weak, poor feather condition, droopy posture, closed or swelled eyes, or anything else that makes you sus on it then let it go, easy. most of the pidgeons that come into your backyard are fair game but do not keep or feed the crested ones that make the whistling noise when they fly, theyre a native (not to mention gorgoeus looking birds) i will post a pic of the trap tomorrow when i could be bothered goin to get it for those interested.

 

[MoOrelia]

U guyz get a big risk feeding with wild animals, for mammals or birds, all can be contaminated with parasites, pesticides... Here we NEVER do that. I know you are a much more wildlife country but for me Wild feeding is t ban !

See ya

Cyril

 

[Waterrat]

U guyz get a big risk feeding with wild animals, for mammals or birds, all can be contaminated with parasites, pesticides... Here we NEVER do that. I know you are a much more wildlife country but for me Wild feeding is t ban !

See ya

Cyril

I think you got it quite wrong my friend. We don't feed out snakes wild animals, those instances mentioned in this thread are rare, occasional and sometimes accidental. We do know about parasite carriers, we don't ever utilise native wildlife as snake food unless it's absolutely necessary. Some of our reptiles are specialists, consuming frogs, small lizards, etc., and they often refuse to take any substitute. Generally, we know what we are doing.

Cheers

 

[Pythoninfinite]

Makes you wonder how we still have wild reptiles, if feeding stuff which isn't frozen, nuked, boiled, x-rayed, fried, baked, soaked in bleach, bathed in acid etc is so damned dangerous. Maybe our reptiles have special hidden kitchens where all these procedures are carried out...

J.

 

[Wally]

Masterchef - Reptiles in Oz coming soon.

 

[redbellybite]

Makes you wonder how we still have wild reptiles, if feeding stuff which isn't frozen, nuked, boiled, x-rayed, fried, baked, soaked in bleach, bathed in acid etc is so damned dangerous. Maybe our reptiles have special hidden kitchens where all these procedures are carried out...

J.

bahahahaha Jamie your my type of humour and totally agree

 

[Pythoninfinite]

Maybe that's where those shiny black cars are going when I see them heading into the bush - taking the losers home to risk their lives with wild, untreated food...

J.

 

[Laghairt]

I saw ion tv a while ago that some local councils (can't remember where) provide you with bird traps for mynahs free of charge. If you get any they pick them up and take them away to be euthanized. It's a great idea to reduce numbers of a pest species regardless of whether you feed them to reptiles or not. I might look at setting up something myself, way too many mynahs where I live.

 

[Sock Puppet]

I saw on tv a while ago that some local councils provide you with bird traps for mynahs

Correct, there's also easy to find info on the net on how to build your own ones.
Should probably contact your local council to check legalities first, but I don't see why they'd have an issue with pest eradication.
Personally I don't see it as any different to setting mouse or rat traps.

 

[Laghairt]

I don't think there would be any legal issues as long as you killed them without being cruel. Mynahs are definitely not protected. Now that I think about it the council where my parents live have a similar system for foxes and possums.