Steph---
Haha most people say that. Then when they come here the twenty tarantulas, the scorpions and vinegaroon are the first thing they want to see but spend the entire time (while they're staring at them) saying how horrified they are by the spiders. The bearded dragon is a lot like a small dog lol and likes to sit by the patio door when it's warm and watch stuff outside before he does his laps around the house and usually ends up asleep behind the TV stand--but everyone pets him when they come over. Snakes I find very calming to hold and fascinating to watch, but that's just me.
But no, actually most parrots eat some sort of insect/mollusk protein in the wild and some, like my Timneh African Grey, have been recorded feeding on carrion. Some species like Kea Parrots are known for eating small mammals, other birds/eggs/chicks and infamously biting fat off live sheep and most species will practice a form of 'birth control' and eat their eggs/babies if they decide it is not a safe/ok time to raise babies.
In captivity they often relish eggs, bones with marrow, lean meats and seafood---some will still eat insects. My grey is fond of chicken, eggs, salmon and she'll even eat ground pork or steak if you let her. She saves the bugs for the rats though lol.
Ball pythons are actually infamously known for being shy, picky feeders that imprint on only a couple food sources. Now...would I trust this 100% of course not and my critters or their stuff never mingle---but there's a good chance that the parrot would intimidate and then attack him. She has/is known for being very territorial towards other animals, other birds (she attempted to and almost killed a cockatiel and he was rehomed for his own safety---she managed to effectively pick the lock on her cage while I was away in order to get at him) and small kids (also something common in birds that most people don't know). If she'll go after 80 lb+ dog, any cat, bird or toddler or y'know....my 6 foot tall 240 lb male roommate (and she has---she decided he was standing too close to me and effectively beak punched him straight in the forehead a la 'shoulda had a V8' commercial)---the 3 lb snake is fair game.
Absolutely not pacifist peaceful herbivores at all lol.
He's a "look-at" pet; I rarely handle him except to make sure he's healthy. He's been raised in captivity and I don't think he could survive in the wilds... Never had to hunt for food before.
