I read the news today oh boy! Page 102

Quote: DaButt @ March 31 2010, 1:01 PM BST

Many animals have dual roles as both pets and pet food. What are the laws for purchasing live rats, mice or crickets for feeding snakes and lizards?

Anyone who keeps a snake or a lizard as a pet deserves to go to jail. What kind of a pet is a snake? A shit pet, that's what.

(Maybe jail is a bit harsh, just slapped round the bonce for being a 'damn fool' instead)

Quote: DaButt @ March 31 2010, 1:01 PM BST

Many animals have dual roles as both pets and pet food. What are the laws for purchasing live rats, mice or crickets for feeding snakes and lizards?

No idea.

Quote: chipolata @ March 31 2010, 1:01 PM BST

You Americans with your quaint disregard for life! Rolling eyes (Although let's not forget she also mistreated a cocateal and was a Rod Stewart fan.)

And she also sold somebody a gerbil in a cup.

Quote: EllieJP @ March 31 2010, 1:04 PM BST

No idea.

Could you do some research and get back to us?

Quote: chipolata @ March 31 2010, 1:04 PM BST

And she also sold somebody a gerbil in a cup.

Ha! That's how they used to come in the olden days, by the cup.

Quote: DaButt @ March 31 2010, 1:01 PM BST

What are the laws for purchasing live rats, mice or crickets for feeding snakes and lizards?

Don't think you can buy live ones thesedays, just fresh kill.

Quote: Tim Walker @ March 31 2010, 1:05 PM BST

Don't think you can buy live ones thesedays, just fresh kill.

So, does the shopkeeper stamp on them just before handing it over?

I just did a little bit of investigating and from what I can gather it's not legal to feed snakes live bait.

However, I have seen crickets being fed to a gheko before.

Quote: chipolata @ March 31 2010, 1:04 PM BST

And she also sold somebody a gerbil in a cup.

How big was the cup? Besides, those pesky gerbils don't live long enough to warrant my altruistic concern. Pleased

Quote: Matthew Stott @ March 31 2010, 1:04 PM BST

Could you do some research and get back to us?

Yes.

Quote: EllieJP @ March 31 2010, 1:06 PM BST

Yes.

Follow-up question: are you going to do any research?

Quote: EllieJP @ March 31 2010, 1:06 PM BST

Yes.

*Waits*

Quote: Tim Walker @ March 31 2010, 1:05 PM BST

Don't think you can buy live ones thesedays, just fresh kill.

I think the insects can be live, but the mice, baby rabbits etc are sold frozen.

It's a weird paradox. I had to keep taking samples of the tank water to be tested by the pet shop before I was allowed to buy goldfish (the water had to be the right PH, etc before I could take the goldfish home), yet I could buy a sea bass from Waitrose and do what the hell I like with it at home.

Can you still buy live crabs and lobsters (to eat not as companion creatures)?

I'm sure Nicholas Cage ate a live cockroach in a film once.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ March 31 2010, 1:08 PM BST

I could buy a sea bass from Waitrose and do what the hell I like with it at home.

You can buy live fish in Waitrose?

Quote: Matthew Stott @ March 31 2010, 1:04 PM BST

Ha! That's how they used to come in the olden days, by the cup.

From vending machines.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ March 31 2010, 1:08 PM BST

Can you still buy live crabs and lobsters (to eat not as companion creatures)?

I'm sure you must be able to down your Cockney market, or certainly order one in a restaurant. It would be mighty hypocritical if you weren't allowed to boil a shellfish to death, but were still able to buy foie gras.