Live rats cause aggression?

Squirtle · 03-26-12, 05:22 PM

Well, back when my burm was real tiny, he used to eat adult mice.. he was tame while feeding him this. Then I started feeding him medium frozen thawed rats and eventually jumbo rats and he started to be a REAL mean snake.. Now that I've started to feed him chickens, he seems to be a lot more tame? I can literally go inside his cage and play around with him and he won't even hiss.. I fed him a 2 lb live chicken yesterday and had to move him today for something and he didn't even try to bite nor his at me.

So my question is, do live rats cause aggression in snakes?

Skumbo · 03-26-12, 05:24 PM

Its possible, id say depends on the snake.

That said, most snakes aren't "aggressive" rather either "defensive" or "in feeding mode"

he could be thinking youre food or more threatening for many reasons.

Squirtle · 03-26-12, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skumbo

Its possible, id say depends on the snake.

That said, most snakes aren't "aggressive" rather either "defensive" or "in feeding mode"

he could be thinking youre food or more threatening for many reasons.

If he was thinking I was food during the period that I fed him rats, wouldn't he think I'd be food now that I feed him chickens also?

exwizard · 03-26-12, 05:31 PM

No they do not. Below are examples of some of my snakes, all of which eat live rats.

Macklot's are voracious eaters but even though mine are they are also dog tame, even my yearlings.

Black Betty is big enough to apply the 1 person per 8' rule, being 9 1/2' long and 26 lbs but she is so tame, I can handle her myself without any problems.

theapexgerman · 03-26-12, 05:31 PM

Maybe he's to full and lazy after an chicken an don't feel like taging you

UwabamiReptiles · 03-26-12, 05:33 PM

I've heard people talk about snakes that were live feeders being more aggressive. But in my limited experience, whether you feed live or f/t has no effect on a snake's aggressiveness. I also approach all my snakes differently when I feed them, opposed to how I approach them when I'm not feeding them. I'm not saying they can be trained, but I do think they can recognize the different situations. Usually once they know its not feeding time, then there is zero aggression.

mykee · 03-26-12, 05:44 PM

No. Young snakes are defensive and adult snakes are not.

Squirtle · 03-26-12, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

No. Young snakes are defensive and adult snakes are not.

He wasn't really defensive when I got him (2 months old) He started showing aggressiveness I'd say at the age of about 6-8 months old? Now he's a year and 3 months old and is puppy dog tame.. with a few hisses here and there when he doesn't want to be bothered.

exwizard · 03-26-12, 05:55 PM

It could be that stage in his development. It could also be something unique to his personality. One thing is for sure. There are very few things nicer than a tame Burm. I wish I could have one one but no for now.

Lankyrob · 03-27-12, 06:25 AM

I would guess that 6-8 months are like the teenage years in humans, now he is "adult" the behaviour is different