Snake scent causing strikes

[IW17]

Hey folks, haven't been on much lately. Things have been busy. Anyways I was cleaning my cages today and got tagged a few times and for whatever reason, it got me wondering. I know the scent of rat or other food on a keeper's hands will induce a feeding response strike. Hence the reason we all wash our hands between handling rats and snakes. But what about snake eaters? Has anyone seen or heard of a feeding response strike from kings, cribo, etc, due to the smell of snake on the keeper's hands? I'm curious as my experience with snake eaters is very limited.

[shaunyboy]

i would think if a rat eating snake will strike you with a feeding response because it smells rat scent on your hands,with that being it's natural prey


then a snake eating snake smelling snake scent on your hands,will hit you with a feeding response,because it thinks your its natural prey

just my take on it mate


cheers shaun

[Obsidian_Dragon]

I'm sure that, some day soon now that my garter is out of quarantine, I'll come to my king smelling like garter. If he tries to eat me, I'll let you know. :P

[TempestK]

I have a cal king that will bite every time if you handle him after you've handled another snake. In fact, when I bought him I had just handled a carpet python and forgot to wash my hands. Sure enough he bit me. The guy I got him from was shocked saying that the snake had never shown any signs of aggression. He still doesn't, unless you smell like snake.

[millertime89]

I agree with the others, it makes total sense.

[IW17]

Ok cool. Yeah it made sense to me but having no experience I figured I'd ask the community.