WHY are Ammies fiesty?

[SerpentLust]

You know, as I was transferring my male into his own seperate tank. He is as docile as a cornsnake. I started to wonder...

People always give you the warning, "Ammies will bite", "Ammies are evil", etc. etc. etc.

Does anyone know WHY they're nippy and more fiesty than other snakes? I thought it may be interesting :)

Jenn

[Invictus]

You may as well ask why Macklotts are more fiesty than others, or why water pythons are more fiesty than others, or white lips, or Tokay geckos.... who knows. Some species are just genetically predisposed to very defensive behavior I guess. :)

[Jeff_Favelle]

Probably linked to their niche in nature. Being that way ensures their survival to pass on their genes. Nature selected them that way to outcompete all the other animals in the area to exploit that particular set of living conditions.

[SerpentLust]

genetically predisposed to very defensive behavior

You know, I think my ex-boyfriends say that about me! :D

[snakehunter]

Well think about the small, underground snakes link ringnecks, or worms, the ones you find every now and then. those guys just wonder through your hand, or just wriggle as a flight attempt.

while others like garters and northerns we find 90% of the time tend to be defensive, probably because of their abundance and ability to be found easily.

[bistrobob85]

I think animals who live in trees and animals that live in water are more nervous than most ground species. Arboreal animals are almost constantly in sight of other animals, and are good targets, i think thats why birds, tree dwelling snakes and climbing lizards are more nervous and ''jumpy'' than other species. They might have to use their defense mechanisms more often than a ground dwelling snakes that would spend his whole time underground or under tree trunks... What do you guys think?

[Invictus]

I think that's an excellent point, Bistro Bob. Arboreal snakes are completely out in the open almost all the time - this also explains the timidness / docility of sand boas, ball pythons, etc., who never *have to* defend themselves because they are always in hiding.

[M_surinamensis]

Arboreal boids are all pretty nasty... The only things that they ever encounter are there either to be eaten, trying to eat them or to mate with... Two out of three, the proper response is to bite. Any animals which don't respond pretty quickly with this instinctive action are either going to starve to death (Prey is there, then it's gone) or be eaten/knocked to the ground and killed in fairly short order. Any that take it *too* far will never mate and remove themselves that way.

It's also a great way to explain instincts to people who may not have a really firm grasp of the idea... Arboreal boids when the lights are on are an entirely different handling challenge than when the lights are off. A stronger response is elicited as both the potential prey and the potential predators related to ATBs are all most active nocturnally.

[marisa]

"Arboreal boids when the lights are on are an entirely different handling challenge than when the lights are off."

This couldn't be more true. With the ATB I had, and now my GTP, both are/were total angels in daylight. But at night, you can't even open the lid a crack without a response!

Marisa