I doubt it takes the rabbit a long time to die. And the prey of constrictor snakes doesn't get strangled, its blood pressure gets pushed upward until its circulatory system more or less ruptures everywhere. Also most snake owners feed their snakes pre-killed prey as it's much safer for them and a better chance they'll eat it.
It is unfortunate that people want to play "master of nature" by keeping pets, though. Go out into the wild and watch a snake catch its own rabbit! Much more rewarding and interesting. Domesticated animals of any kind just aren't the real thing.
YMMV wrote:
Feeding a snake it's natural diet is anything but cruel.
You can't feed a snake anything and it be natural.
Keeping a snake captive so you can feed it live animals is a weird setup. Does it feed a certain psychology craving in some people to watch death at close quarters? Probably. But then despite being carnivorous, society has largely removed that activity from us on a personal level, so who's to say whether this feeding live animals to other animals is really a sign of a depraved or merely lost mind.
The fact that the snake eats the rabbit it can't be considered a cruel on. Rabbits are usually what snakes eat. If you consider it cruelty, then I want to ask you do you eat meat no matter of what animal? Do you know to what cruelty poor chickens are exposed before they get on your plate well baked or fried? Trust me those people who raise animals and eventually sell their meat, treat them like a complete piece of crap. However, the fact the kid was watching the snake eating the rabbit could be called a cruel one. I have a similar story when my nephew feed his Bullmastiff with an exotic bird listed on
https://petsoid.com/most-friendly-pet-birds/
.
The poor bird was dying in a complete torment.
Best rabbit video ever:
I don't think it's cruel because that's how nature works because the strongest always wins and snakes eat rabbits alive, mind you. I have a snake at home for three years and I often feed it rabbits, mice and other small animals because this is their environment and they are used to being hunters. If in the real world yellow belly would eat living creatures then at home this snake being a pet is very fond of this food and treats in the form of rabbits. This type of snake is extremely rare and gentle, but if you decide to raise it as a pet, then you should definitely read this article https://reptilepetsrock.com/snakes/ball-python-morphs
Your snake is a lazy b@atard! Make it go out in the wild and find it's own rabbits!
How do they feed the snakes in zoos?