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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[Kingsnakechris]

Originally Posted by 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

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.