Address the myth

[Evilme5229]

The room gets devided so many times on these issues and its funny how posts here and there about it come up and ppl still cry myth.

Its not the first post I have read, nor the first testimony of it happening. However, lots of ppl want to debate if bps being fed in their enclosure leads to more tagging or snappy (as you will).

So lets address it. Air it out as you will.

Why do ppl get tagged?

Why does it seem more tagging occurs during feeding than any other event?

If someone has handle a rat/mouse and gets tagged "because the scent is on him," doesn't that prove that a snake doesn't know the difference between what is prey and what is owner?

I agree, that not all bps are going to tag during feeding but it sounds like most ppl on this forum are advocates of f/t or prekill, and it also seems like they are the ones more so calling this a myth.

If we are going to give new owners advise, I think these normal and 101 questions should be addressed, because its sounding like its a big mixed bag of tricks of information. Its either a myth or not.

******This is not an arguement but a discussion ppl, so please keep it cordial******

[Jay_Bunny]

I have been tagged 4 times by snakes.

1st - female snow corn. Was feeding in the enclosure. Used fingers to dangle f/t mouse (mouse was room temp). She felt that my warm fingers were a better meal and tagged my finger. I quickly learned to use feeding tongs.

2nd - handled a baby pastel male who was in shed. Should not have handled him while he was in shed.

3rd - reached hand into a baby carpet python's enclosure. He tagged me.

4th - feeding pastel male in enclosure(f/t mouse). He struck the mouse but uncoiled. He sometimes will not eat a feeder unless he is coiled around it so I went to pick it back up with the feeding tongs and he tagged my finger.

Now these are all due to keeper error, not the fact I feed in the enclosure. Usually if a snake strikes at me it is because my hand is warmer than their feeder (I don't heat f/t feeders, just thaw to room temp) or I am not using feeding tongs. I normally have no issues with feeding in the enclosure and experience little to no aggression when I reach in to handle them.

[ed4281]

I have worked professionally with all kinds of snakes for 15 years, I have fed live, F/t, stunned etc and I have owned snakes since I was 10 years old. I have never once been tagged. I guess I am lucky or saving up for one hell of a bite.
The one thing I am a freak about though is sanitizing my hands after handling any rodents. Also if they are mean I go straight for the hook.

[Evilme5229]

Now these are all due to keeper error, not the fact I feed in the enclosure. Usually if a snake strikes at me it is because my hand is warmer than their feeder (I don't heat f/t feeders, just thaw to room temp) or I am not using feeding tongs. I normally have no issues with feeding in the enclosure and experience little to no aggression when I reach in to handle them.

I have to agree it sounds like most times its keeper error. But it also sounds like, you have some aggressive snakes or that they can be tempermental at times.

I do agree sometimes tagging occurs with younger snakes as well that has nothing related to feeding. However, I have heard that snakes do become used to and routinely seek out getting fed more regularly and aggressively when being strikely fed in the enclosure.

I also know that some keepers leave their snake alone and don't handle as much as they should, only opening the enclosure when its feeding time. I do believe handling your snake more and when feeding in the enclosure will decrease the possibility of being tagged with "mistaken identity" as one forum member put it.

[Evilme5229]

I have worked professionally with all kinds of snakes for 15 years, I have fed live, F/t, stunned etc and I have owned snakes since I was 10 years old. I have never once been tagged. I guess I am lucky or saving up for one hell of a bite.
The one thing I am a freak about though is sanitizing my hands after handling any rodents. Also if they are mean I go straight for the hook.

I myself haven't been tagged yet either. Very thankful btw. I do mix it up a bit when it comes to feeding. I rather not feed in the enclosure unless my snake is refusing to eat. Other than that, I'm all for separte feeding area to decrease any chances of getting tagged. Its also nice to get them out of their enclosure.

[CoolioTiffany]

Here's my response to your questions, even if it has been answered.

[QUOTE=Evilme5229;1276140]Why do ppl get tagged?[QUOTE]
Defensive, offensive, or mistaking you for prey if you smell like it or a feeding response when you opened the cage (offensive?).

Why does it seem more tagging occurs during feeding than any other event?

Sometimes people will handle the mice/rats and have the scent on their hands and pickup the snake. Not such a great idea.

If someone has handle a rat/mouse and gets tagged "because the scent is on him," doesn't that prove that a snake doesn't know the difference between what is prey and what is owner?

They know the difference, but when they smell that one smell they love they'll go into a feeding response. They don't necessarily recognize people per say, but they do know when they are being in contact with them.

I agree, that not all bps are going to tag during feeding but it sounds like most ppl on this forum are advocates of f/t or prekill, and it also seems like they are the ones more so calling this a myth.

Keep in mind that F/T rodents do keep some of their scent and the snake will smell it. With pre-killed it is just like as it is live, and has even more of the scent on it than a F/T prey item.

[Jay_Bunny]

I have to agree it sounds like most times its keeper error. But it also sounds like, you have some aggressive snakes or that they can be tempermental at times.

I do agree sometimes tagging occurs with younger snakes as well that has nothing related to feeding. However, I have heard that snakes do become used to and routinely seek out getting fed more regularly and aggressively when being strikely fed in the enclosure.

I also know that some keepers leave their snake alone and don't handle as much as they should, only opening the enclosure when its feeding time. I do believe handling your snake more and when feeding in the enclosure will decrease the possibility of being tagged with "mistaken identity" as one forum member put it.

I only have one snake I would consider aggressive. He was a doll before he came home but after I set him up he's been aggressive (tracking my movements, striking, etc).

The corn snake that bit me has never bit out of aggression. It was a simple case of mistaken identity. My finger was warmer than the mouse, smelled like a mouse, so she figured it was a mouse. She quickly realized I was not a mouse and let go, and struck the mouse and ate. The pastel ball python I was holding was in shed so could not see me. He also was not mine (pet store) I ended taking home his brother. The carpet python was also not mine (pet store). The pastel male (brother to the one that bit me) was aggressive from the time we brought him home though with handling he has calmed way down. I can now reach right in and pick him up, even if he's in shed.

[ed4281]

I have never noticed a difference with feeding in or out of the enclosure but I handle my snakes at home almost daily so they are used to me going in and out, also the 2 I have right now are the most laid back snakes I have ever seen. When I worked with snakes at the animal hospital, zoo or nature center they always fed in the enclosures even the education animals and I still never noticed a difference in agression it was mostly based on the personality of the animal.

[Evilme5229]

Mistaken Identity, scent on ppl, still sounds like ppl are more apt to be getting bitten in an enclosure when it comes to feeding.

I have never heard of someone feeding a snake outside the enclosure, waiting long enough for the feeding response to be gone, and than trying to handle their snake and still gets tagged. Its always the enclosure one way or the other. Maybe it has to be with going back to territorial instincts? Also, because BPs are on the lesser end of aggressiveness I would think that terrioritial would not be so much the issue vs. scent of a juicy rat. lmao

[Jay_Bunny]

I have been tagged from snakes in their enclosures and outside their enclosures. I think it all boils down to if you snake feels threatened, not necessarily a territorial thing. When you open a snake's enclosure and reach in to grab them all they experience is sudden movement, changes in light and suddenly a big warm thing hovering over them and reaching towards them. I simply open tubs slowly, and if I have a snake that is occasionally aggressive (like my pastel used to be) I would simply tap him gently on his nose with my snake hook and reach right in. You just have to let them know you are not there to hurt them.