Sex preference?

[Trollbie]

Is it possible that snakes will only eat a specific gender mice? Penelope does not seem to like male mice... But when it's a female, she has no issues.

[USMCgunner11]

Is it possible that snakes will only eat a specific gender mice? Penelope does not seem to like male mice... But when it's a female, she has no issues.

I have encountered issues regarding the color of their food but never the gender.

[Trollbie]

I don't know if it's just a coincidence since this is only the second time she's been given a male, but the first time she got 2/3 of the mouse in and then she spat him out... Now she's not even trying to eat it.

[mykee]

Black male mice smell no different nor do they emit a different heat signature than a white female mouse.
All hoooey.

[Xanafein]

Well, a male mouse and a female mouse will always have different odors Mykee. Same way you can tell a natural born woman from a transvestite, and the same reason waiters and waitresses often use pheromone perfumes and colognes, although im not sure the scents would carry through being frozen and subsequently thawed.


Now I would agree that a white and black male mouse smell the same, but look different, and a white and black female smell the same and look different.

I know in humans that males and females store fat in both different areas and quantities, and that pregnant women often develop cravings to get the nutrients the developing child needs that, with that in mind along with the possibility for different odors I do believe it is possible for a snake to develop a preference. Especially considering how much stronger their ability to detect scents is than ours.

[Kingsnakechris]

Well, a male mouse and a female mouse will always have different odors Mykee. Same way you can tell a natural born woman from a transvestite, and the same reason waiters and waitresses often use pheromone perfumes and colognes, although im not sure the scents would carry through being frozen and subsequently thawed.


Now I would agree that a white and black male mouse smell the same, but look different, and a white and black female smell the same and look different.

I know in humans that males and females store fat in both different areas and quantities, and that pregnant women often develop cravings to get the nutrients the developing child needs that, with that in mind along with the possibility for different odors I do believe it is possible for a snake to develop a preference. Especially considering how much stronger their ability to detect scents is than ours.

Lol that part about the way you tell a transvestite from a natural born woman made me chuckle..

[Xanafein]

Considering I work at an adult book store it is a valuable skill (also adams apple cleft chin broad shoulders large hands longer torso larger feet ect.), Now please back on topic :D

[Kingsnakechris]

Considering I work at an adult book store it is a valuable skill (also adams apple cleft chin broad shoulders large hands longer torso larger feet ect.), Now please back on topic :D

Haha, sorry I just had to comment on that, back to topic though,


I have never heard of gender causing an issue but I have heard of colors posing a problem. Im gonna search around on google for a while. I'll let you
Know if I find anything..

[Kingsnakechris]

Well, apparently it's not just your snake. I can't seem to find an explanation for it but theres a few people on pages I found on google that say their snakes will only eat female mice as well. Weird....

[mykee]

This thing went around the forums ten years ago and still pops up every now and then: "my snakes will only eat "X" coloured rats" now (and I've never heard this one before until now) that "my snake will only eat female mice".

I think it's hy-larious.
I think I can also speak from a point of some expereince as I've fed thousands of snakes tens of thousands of food items over the last 13 years and I can say without a doubt that it's all BS.
If you have a picky eater, you have a picky eater. Don't blame it on the food item, blame it on the snake.

[Kingsnakechris]

This thing went around the forums ten years ago and still pops up every now and then: "my snakes will only eat "X" coloured rats" now (and I've never heard this one before until now) that "my snake will only eat female mice".

I think it's hy-larious.
I think I can also speak from a point of some expereince as I've fed thousands of snakes tens of thousands of food items over the last 13 years and I can say without a doubt that it's all BS.
If you have a picky eater, you have a picky eater. Don't blame it on the food item, blame it on the snake.

Fair enough, but what about those who offer a darker colored rat and the snake refuses, but when they offer a white rat the snake takes it?

[Xanafein]

This thing went around the forums ten years ago and still pops up every now and then: "my snakes will only eat "X" coloured rats" now (and I've never heard this one before until now) that "my snake will only eat female mice".

I think it's hy-larious.
I think I can also speak from a point of some expereince as I've fed thousands of snakes tens of thousands of food items over the last 13 years and I can say without a doubt that it's all BS.
If you have a picky eater, you have a picky eater. Don't blame it on the food item, blame it on the snake.

The food color thing no doubt stems from the natural prey items colouration, and if your snake is a picky eater, it makes sense that it would go after a prey item of similar colouration, Likewise the Pheromones and odors given off by food items of different gender may also improve the feeding response

Yes its the snake being picky, but knowing many picky eaters that can actually talk to me, Feeds appearance and smell has a lot to do with weather or not we find it appetizing

And it is Clearly NOT BS because so many people have similar issues with picky eaters, I congratulate you for your 13 successful years keeping these magnificent animals, But would would encourage you to lay ego aside and consider that there are things you do not understand, and not just you, the feeding habits of captive animals are things we should all try to understand

I just think that untill you have done proper studies and Research, or at least find some to back up your post you should refrain from calling something BS simply because it is something you have never encountered , and instead look at it as something interesting to be studied more

Who knows you may learn something

[mykee]

I'm all for learning stuff but a stressed out owner of a picky ball python will try to rationalize their animal not eating in many different ways.
Lets put it this way; I've raised thousands of baby ball pythons from meal one to consistent f/t rat eaters and NEVER, not once, have I encountered a baby ball that would not eat anything I offered it. Same deal for all the adults I've owned.
I'm certainly not saying I know much, hell I'm learning new stuff every day, but you can keep your scientific studies, I've lived it and I can say without a doubt in my mind, ball pythons do not imprint on sex, size or colour of feeder.

[Xanafein]

I'm all for learning stuff but a stressed out owner of a picky ball python will try to rationalize their animal not eating in many different ways.
Lets put it this way; I've raised thousands of baby ball pythons from meal one to consistent f/t rat eaters and NEVER, not once, have I encountered a baby ball that would not eat anything I offered it. Same deal for all the adults I've owned.
I'm certainly not saying I know much, hell I'm learning new stuff every day, but you can keep your scientific studies, I've lived it and I can say without a doubt in my mind, ball pythons do not imprint on sex, size or colour of feeder.

If all you where referring to with your experience was balls, Then I really think you should keep an open mind considering I don't think trollbie keeps any Royals i know she has a Brazilian and i believe a King snake, or a milk snake or possibly both.

[mykee]

I think ball pythons, being among the pickiest of all snakes, are a perfect example and a great baseline for this discussion.
I also find that coincidentally, the ones who usually bring up this topic (both here and in the past) are keepers who own a very limited number of snakes with which to draw from their experiences.

[USMCgunner11]

But there are studies out there on how some species of snake DO imprint their prey. Just because YOU never expereicened it doesn't mean you can speak for the entire snake species.

[Xanafein]

True, and again I'm not arguing against your experience, simply stating that there is always a reason behind things, and since animals can imprint on a species I dont see why size or gender is so hard for you to believe (although personally I do agree with you on the color bit).

I mean aside from taste I'm sure the snake differentiates between a rat and mouse by size and odor, and since their sense of smell is considerably more refined than ours, I thinks it is perfectly reasonable to assume a snake could in theory develop a preference toward a food item of a certain gender.

[mykee]

Keep in mind that most snakes are opportunistic feeders; feeding on whatever comes along whenever it comes along.
A snake imprinting on a sex or colour would work completely against how their reptilian brain works.
With that in mind, I think the issues discussed within this thread are a keeper issue rather than their snakes issue.

[Xanafein]

Then you should be more clear about it being your opinion based on your experiences with the snakes you keep, Which may or may not apply to the question being asked

Also if snakes where that opportunistic i think we would see more snakes eating roadkill or hell even people

[KORBIN5895]

Snakes do eat dead animals and road kill.

[USMCgunner11]

Just found this on anapsid. She's quite experienced and been in this field for a long time as well.


"Some reptiles are sensitive to color, and have definite preferences for prey of certain colors. With rodents, this may mean brown or parti-colored mice rather than white mice."

[mykee]

"Also if snakes where that opportunistic i think we would see more snakes eating roadkill or hell even people"
You had my ear until you said that. Just foolish.

[Xanafein]

You had my ear until you said that. Just foolish.

@ Korbin I never once said that they did not eat roadkill

@ Mykee My point is, if snakes were completely opportunistic and did not imprint on food, Picky feeders would not arise as frequently as they do

that post was both snarky and unclear, and for that I apologize I am extremely exhausted as i work nights and its past my bed time I will nap, and when i am well rested and not irritable, I would like to continue this debate with you

[Kingsnakechris]

Keep in mind that most snakes are opportunistic feeders; feeding on whatever comes along whenever it comes along.
A snake imprinting on a sex or colour would work completely against how their reptilian brain works.
With that in mind, I think the issues discussed within this thread are a keeper issue rather than their snakes issue.

I agree but I think they are more opportunistic in the wild. If it's fed on a schedule it makes sense that they would develop certain preferences since they know food will be offered again shortly. They might just hold off until they are offered a particular color or even possibly a certain gender. Snakes in the wild don't have a scheduled feeding day so they eat what and when they can.
Just my .02

[millertime89]

A snake imprinting on a sex or colour would work completely against how their reptilian brain works.

How many snakes make it to adulthood in the wild? I would think it probably happens in the wild as well which results in those snakes being killed off or starving so long that they give in and eat the first thing that comes their way. How long do snakes in the wild go between meals? There are so many variables you can't definitively say "No snakes don't have color/gender preferences in their food," only that in your experience they don't.

[exwizard]

I love watching debates, just as long as they dont get emotional or personal. Its all about ones opinion of another anyway. :)

[Lankyrob]

My PERSONAL opinion based on my limited snake owning experience and my thousands of hours reading and researching online is this -

Some snakes eat often and some snakes eat rarely - both can make it to a long healthy old age with no issues. Some owners have snakes that wont eat and just throw the prey to another animal (or in the bin) and other owners have snakes taht wont eat and worry and panic and (as Mykee said) try to rationalise or anthropomorphise the situation in order to explain it in their own way.

Most of us grow up with mammals as pets and the first sign of illness is usually them not eating hence why a lot of people get worried when their snake doesnt eat to our schedule.

THe only way is to put hundreds of snakes into a scientiific study and offer half only male black rats, half only female black rats for a couple of years and then switch the feeding to record how many will refuse the other sex.

I am guessing we have no volunteers to do this and report back in a few years time ??? Anyone???? :)

[Kingsnakechris]

My PERSONAL opinion based on my limited snake owning experience and my thousands of hours reading and researching online is this -

Some snakes eat often and some snakes eat rarely - both can make it to a long healthy old age with no issues. Some owners have snakes that wont eat and just throw the prey to another animal (or in the bin) and other owners have snakes taht wont eat and worry and panic and (as Mykee said) try to rationalise or anthropomorphise the situation in order to explain it in their own way.

Most of us grow up with mammals as pets and the first sign of illness is usually them not eating hence why a lot of people get worried when their snake doesnt eat to our schedule.

THe only way is to put hundreds of snakes into a scientiific study and offer half only male black rats, half only female black rats for a couple of years and then switch the feeding to record how many will refuse the other sex.

I am guessing we have no volunteers to do this and report back in a few years time ??? Anyone???? :)
If I had the resources I'd love to! Lol just buy me the building and I'll compile a list of snakes and color morphs I want and once everyone sends me the test subjects I'll get right on that. Lol on a serious note, that would be a great test to run. I agree that seems to be the only way to put the debate to rest..

[Trollbie]

First of all, I'm not stressed out because she won't eat. It is just a simple observation, because between her first feeding (when she spat out a male mouse) and this time (when she didn't even try to eat the male mouse), she's been giving me 0 problems with feeding. The only reason I even paid attention to the gender of the mouse was because my friend wanted me to name the mice...

Mykee I do realize that compared to you I have practically 0 experience, but that doesn't mean that my milk snake is expected to have similar exact feeding behaviours as your ball pythons.

I started this thread out of curiosity. Not because I'm freaking out that she's not eating...