We have an actual *snake* cage for her and my nephew has the same thing. It is a black mesh 6' high x 4 foot diameter *rectangular* enclosure with pvc supports. It zips all around the bottom. Do not be fooled. Alice has taken her snout and unzipped the cage...and she went missing for a few hours. Our cat alerted us because {Lily} refused to get off the top of the cage. My son and I are very astute to the behavior of any of our critters.

I will never again have an animal that is in a cage. It is wrong on so many levels.

What is the fascination? Good question. For me, there is the bonding I had with my son with it...but also Alice was a rescue.
Cameron has always had a fascination with snakes...and for his graduation from high school he wanted to go to Australia and meet Steve Irwin...his hero.

Cameron worked in a pet store for awhile, with fish and reptiles. It was and still is, his and my passion to teach people about these most understood of creatures. Alice is a docile snake...and actually *enjoys* being caressed. Cameron takes after his Dad and me. We both were critter getters when we were young. Cameron feels the same way I do now...but there is no one we would trust to take care of Alice.

Yes..it is not uncommon for snakes to go 8 months without eating....and I can not be present when Cameron feeds Alice. If she is not hungry, she will not eat...and becomes preyed upon by the rat...so the rat must be released as soon as one realizes that the snake will not eat, which is actually very quickly determined. The snake will bite and coil, thus suffocating the animal immediately after the animal is placed in the cage.

I understand your disdain Lindy... it is the humans that have created the grave injustice, though.