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Python eats gator, stomach ruptures
Nesnet5.com ^ | 10/5/2005 | AP

Posted on 10/05/2005 11:07:35 AM PDT by Pessimist

A python's eyes were apparently bigger than its stomach.

Scientists in Florida are puzzling over a Burmese python that scarfed down a six-foot alligator before its stomach ruptured.

They found the carcasses in an isolated part of Florida's Everglades National Park. Photos show the gator's hind legs and tail sticking out of the 13-foot snake's ruptured gut.

The Miami Herald reported that scientists can't figure out how the snake got the critter down. The snake's head is also missing.

Experts say the clash is interesting, but it also shows the exotic snakes are competing with gators to top the food chain in the Everglades.

Park biologist Skip Snow said he's documented 156 python captures in the last two years.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: bushsfault; eyesbiggerthantummy; gator; gluttony; justdamn; overambitious; python; unnngh
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To: Cobra64
Our VP Sales was a P51 pilot based in Europe during WWII. Shot down a lot of Germans Fokkers?

"No, dem Fokkers vass Messerschmitts."

(Punch line of an old joke < ]B^)

121 posted on 10/05/2005 3:19:43 PM PDT by Erasmus (A strong bow is a terrible thing to waste. Give to the Antonio Janigro College Fund.)
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To: T.Smith
My son wants a Ball Python (he's 5). I haven't quite made up my mind about it yet. How has it worked out for you?

The ball python has worked out well. They are really very docile, only eat about once every ten days, handle well, and spend almost all their time hiding.

The biggest challenge is keeping a proper temperature range in the environment, as they are prone to respiratory infections if it gets too cold. But setting up the environment is not hard if you do a little research. The Internet is full of good info on keeping pet ball pythons.

One bit of advice, do NOT buy one from a pet store. Much better to get a captive bred one from a breeder, who can provide documentation that the animal is a good feeder (wild caught specimens are notoriously poor eaters and tend to have parasites and other health problems). A normal colored juvenile ball will cost between $50 and $75, and plan on spending around $150 for the environment.

Of course, a five year-old is too young to be able to care for a ball python. So plan on doing the feeding and cleaning the cage (every 4-6 weeks, typically right after a shed) yourself for a few years.

I prefer to feed ours thawed frozen pre-killed mice. But the sad fact is that in spite of promises, our pet store has not been able to keep a reliable supply. So on more than one occasion, I have had to buy a live one and kill it myself, which I hate to do. I long ago learned a technique that makes it very quick and relatively painless for the mouse, but it's much better to get frozen. There are places you can order them in bulk online, if you have the freezer space.

So think about that before you buy. They can live for 20 years or more in captivity. So be sure you are ready to make the commitment, as full grown ones (average length 3-5 feet at adulthood) can be tough to find homes for.

If you have any questions or need any advice, feel free to freepmail me. I'll be happy to share the benefit of my experience with you (this is not the first snake I've owned).

122 posted on 10/05/2005 4:09:26 PM PDT by Maceman (Fake But Accurate)
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To: Erasmus

My Dad (Lt. Commander in WWII NAvy and his P51 pilot used to talk the walk in WWII. They used "combat speak" that I never understood. As a child, I always repected my elders who served in combat. When my brother served in 'Nam as an evac pilot, he never discusses his missions, even though I ask him about his decorations. To this day, my brother, Bill does not discuss his missions. He turned his focuss to the private sector, and builds commercial heliports.


123 posted on 10/05/2005 5:38:28 PM PDT by Cobra64
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Comment #124 Removed by Moderator

To: Pessimist

This may be just a chick thing, but what I see is the potential for a lot of snazzy-looking shoes and designer handbags. I wonder if they slice me off a hunk of each dead critter and ship it to me so I can design my own. ;)


125 posted on 10/05/2005 6:18:51 PM PDT by ru4liberty (I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow. May His Name ever be praised!)
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To: mikrofon

Did I hear some say gumbo?


126 posted on 10/05/2005 7:37:15 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Bush to Blanco to "tighten up", so she called her plastic surgeon)
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To: Erasmus

I actually own that book, but my mom used to say things like that (Never eat anything bigger than your head) from the time I was little - which is why I decided to grow my head to truly gigantic proportions.


127 posted on 10/05/2005 8:11:59 PM PDT by Bookwoman
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To: Disambiguator; mikrofon; martin_fierro
Python eats gator, stomach ruptures


128 posted on 10/05/2005 8:19:18 PM PDT by Charles Henrickson
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To: Pessimist

bump


129 posted on 10/05/2005 8:22:03 PM PDT by GOPJ (Mapes isn't stuck on stupid, she invented it.)
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To: Charles Henrickson
"Better get a bucket, I'm gonna throw up!"


130 posted on 10/05/2005 8:31:40 PM PDT by Disambiguator (Making accusations of racism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.)
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To: StarCMC

Oh thank you for those links!!! That brought back a few childhood memories! :o)


131 posted on 10/05/2005 8:56:30 PM PDT by samiam1972 (Live simply so that others may simply live!)
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To: Disambiguator
a gator whose gut was slit open. . . .

Disembowelagator

132 posted on 10/05/2005 9:06:26 PM PDT by Charles Henrickson
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To: Pessimist

The Full Monty.....


133 posted on 10/05/2005 9:28:22 PM PDT by b4its2late (If you can remain calm, you just don't have all the facts.)
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To: martin_fierro

Ralph............. expecting some help from the community with the upcoming sextuplets.


134 posted on 10/06/2005 3:34:15 AM PDT by beyond the sea (Doctor, my eyes... tell me what is wrong...was I unwise to leave them open for so long)
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To: Charles Henrickson
Disembowelagator

No-one's ever called me that before!

135 posted on 10/06/2005 6:10:17 AM PDT by Disambiguator (Making accusations of racism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.)
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To: Fierce Allegiance
Another version:

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

136 posted on 10/06/2005 6:54:27 AM PDT by b4its2late (If you can remain calm, you just don't have all the facts.)
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To: zeebee
The SPitfire is a beauty to be sure, but I still believe the P-51 to be even more pleasing to the eye.

Evolution?

137 posted on 10/06/2005 7:19:27 AM PDT by Romish_Papist
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To: Graybeard58

My mother still serves biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon, sausage or ham, sometimes grits (I put sugar and butter on grits and eat them like cereal and mom almost has heart failure) or oatmeal. Sometimes she fries up apples to go along with the biscuits and gravy. And she watches how much I eat too. If I weren't so sick from last night's dinner, I'd be hungry now after talking about the good food.


138 posted on 10/06/2005 9:55:27 AM PDT by lilylangtree
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To: Fierce Allegiance
Aloha -- I've been looking for this image for, probably, 10 years. I first saw it on a surfboard, but it had the letters "Never, ever, give up." superimposed on the bottom. I want to get a good copy of it and see if I can get a board shaper to make me a graphic to put on a new surfboard for myself.

Can you tell me where you got this image? Thanks ahead of time.

139 posted on 07/22/2007 1:31:16 AM PDT by Proud2BAmerican
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