Sex preference? - Page 2

USMCgunner11 · 04-22-12, 11:41 AM

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 · 04-22-12, 11:46 AM

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 · 04-22-12, 11:55 AM

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 · 04-22-12, 11:58 AM

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 · 04-22-12, 12:19 PM

Snakes do eat dead animals and road kill.

USMCgunner11 · 04-22-12, 12:21 PM

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 · 04-22-12, 12:28 PM

Quote:

"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 · 04-22-12, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

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 · 04-22-12, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 04-22-12, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

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 · 04-22-12, 12:57 PM

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

Lankyrob · 04-22-12, 01:03 PM

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 · 04-22-12, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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????

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 · 04-22-12, 01:19 PM

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...