Live vs Pre-Killed - Aggression

[echinox]

New BP owner here, so bare with me . I've been reading many of the threads on live vs PK or F/T and have come to the conclusion of personal preference, for whatever reasons anyone may have. (ease of one over the other, cost, "pickyness" of BP, etc).

What I haven't been able to find is just how much of the animal/wild instinct does feeding live retain? In other words, does NOT feeding live lessen the aggression of the snake and thus the likelyhood that it may strike the handler (me)?

Also, I've heard/read about feeding the snake (regardless of live vs prekilled) on a box or enclousure outside of its tank to avoid food association with your "hand going into the tank", is this true?

Thanks, and bare in mind that I'm a newbie .

[elevatethis]

What I haven't been able to find is just how much of the animal/wild instinct does feeding live retain? In other words, does NOT feeding live lessen the aggression of the snake and thus the likelyhood that it may strike the handler (me)?

I have a boa, which I feed f/t (I don't like bringing home big, live, angry rats), and it still hits the frozen rat like it would a live one. So no, it doesn't affect their overall feeding response or decrease the likelihood that it would mistakenly bite you.

Also, I've heard/read about feeding the snake (regardless of live vs prekilled) on a box or enclousure outside of its tank to avoid food association with your "hand going into the tank", is this true?

100% not true. If you argued that feeding a snake outside of tank would decrease the likelihood that they'd bite your hand inside their enclosure, you could make an equally convincing arguement that the snake would expect to be fed EVERY TIME IT WAS REMOVED. Both of those arguments are totally false, but you run the logic through and it makes no sense to say that a snake would be less likely to bite you simply by being fed outside of their enclosure.

Additionally, ball pythons can be especially shy eaters and being removed from the safety of their hide inside their own enclosure can be enough to completely shut off their feeding response when placed in the "feeding box."

A snake will be less likely to bite through efforts of the keeper, such as handwashing after handling rodents or other pets, learning their body postures to predict behavior, avoid startling the snake, reaching without looking, etc....

[Spaniard]

New BP owner here, so bare with me . I've been reading many of the threads on live vs PK or F/T and have come to the conclusion of personal preference, for whatever reasons anyone may have. (ease of one over the other, cost, "pickyness" of BP, etc).

What I haven't been able to find is just how much of the animal/wild instinct does feeding live retain? In other words, does NOT feeding live lessen the aggression of the snake and thus the likelyhood that it may strike the handler (me)?

Also, I've heard/read about feeding the snake (regardless of live vs prekilled) on a box or enclousure outside of its tank to avoid food association with your "hand going into the tank", is this true?

Thanks, and bare in mind that I'm a newbie .

The type of food you feed does not increase aggression IMHO.

The food association with your hand is a myth...the smell of the rat is what triggers your bp to go into feed mode, so unless you're handling a rat and then sticking your hand in the tank I don't think you should have a problem.

[Adam_Wysocki]

In other words, does NOT feeding live lessen the aggression of the snake

Absolutely not. Aggressive snakes are aggressive and melow snakes are melow ... doesn't matter what or how you feed them, each snake is it's own animal.

Build a relationship of trust with your animal and it will be less likely to be aggressive towards you ... feed what works for your snake and yourself.

-adam

[snakey68]

New BP owner here, so bare with me . I've been reading many of the threads on live vs PK or F/T and have come to the conclusion of personal preference, for whatever reasons anyone may have. (ease of one over the other, cost, "pickyness" of BP, etc).

What I haven't been able to find is just how much of the animal/wild instinct does feeding live retain? In other words, does NOT feeding live lessen the aggression of the snake and thus the likelyhood that it may strike the handler (me)?

Also, I've heard/read about feeding the snake (regardless of live vs prekilled) on a box or enclousure outside of its tank to avoid food association with your "hand going into the tank", is this true?

Thanks, and bare in mind that I'm a newbie .

good question I will answer IMO.

I feed mine F/T and have aggressive strikers/ feeders and some not so aggressive so it boils down to individual snakes IMO. Comes down to preference as you say, I dont think you need to feed outside teh tank but I do on occasion if the tank needs cleaned wehn feeding time arises , otherwise I feed in the tank on almost all occasions.

There are times if I have a particular picky eater then I will place in a small box with their respective prey and it works for me but most should feed in the tanks when they are hungry fine providing their tank is set up in terms of requirements.

I dont think they associate feeding with your hand going into the tank if your not "ONLY" interacting when feeding. If you are handling and cleaning out regular then feeding in their tank wont change anything IMO

In terms of how much of their instinct they retain feeding live v pre killed thats a whole new thread LOL ....some would say I am sure that the instinct is stronger feeding "LIVE" and I would probably agree with it but since I dont feed mine live I cant say for sure .......perhaps one of our "live" feeders on here that also feed F/T can offer a more definitive answer in that respect.

anyway best of luck your at the best forum I know of to debate and get opinions you can mull over and make a choice suited to you and your snake.

Snakey

[Evan Jamison]

What I haven't been able to find is just how much of the animal/wild instinct does feeding live retain? In other words, does NOT feeding live lessen the aggression of the snake and thus the likelyhood that it may strike the handler (me)?

Aggressive feeders (feeding instinct) are one story, while aggressive or defensive for the sake of survival (fight or flight instinct) is a whole other story, and a whole other response to stimuli. Feeding live does not make a snake aggressive, although it may illlicit a more aggressive feeding response. I have a couple girls that are super aggressive on food, even flying out of their tubs to nab their meal, yet when I open the tubs to clean, or check on them, they could care less (note that there is no rodent smell in the snake room when I clean). Others are always defensive of me opening the tub, whether I'm feeding, cleaning or otherwise, yet when they realize there is food around, their defensive response dissappears, and their feeding instinct kicks in (sometimes even after taking a couple of defensive strikes at their meal before-hand. You can see their behavior change from defensive, to hunting). So, long story short, feed f/t or live; in cage or feeding bin, it doesn't matter as long as you do it correctly and responsibly.

-Evan

[echinox]

Thanks for the reply guys. Its amazing how how much faux info there is out there!