The circle of life

My friends sometimes ask me jokingly, "If there was an earthquake and all your pets' cages broke and the animals escaped into the house - what would win?"

Mind you I have several species of snakes as well as various lizards, salamanders, cats, rabbit, parrot, tarantula, and backyard visitors such as toads, frogs and turtles that hang out for a while.

There are never any real confrontations, in fact the cats are terrified of the rabbit and they stay away from the parrot's beak, so there is harmony here for the most part.

However... earlier today, Pepper the parrot squared off with Monty the corn snake.We keep the board over the tank because otherwise the cats sit on the screen to look out the window - and today Pepper climbed up the curtain and decided to explore. He was tapping his feet and squealing, and he peeked over the edge to find a hungry snake staring back at him. Monty stalked him just like he stalks a dangling mouse, shaking and sniffing and coiling up. And of course Pepper, the instigator, had to keep poking at the screen and squeaking.

Eventually Monty got bored, and Pepper climbed off the cage, but it was hilarious watching their stand off which lasted almost 10 minutes. Monty is a pink snow variety (not albino) corn snake, and about 4.5' long. He's a cuddly friendly snake, have had him for about four years now.

I wonder who would win if there was no screen between them? I'd be glad to never find out :P