Are your breeders mean?

[djansen]

I was talking to my herp friend about the fact that most of his snakes are pretty mean, like when he shows them to me they usually strike at him. or when he opens the tub they look ready to strike. He said that is good because he wants them to have a strong feeding response. So any of you big breeders, are your snakes mean?

[slartibartfast]

I'm not a big breeder, but all of my dozen-ish girls come out hungry as soon as the tub starts sliding out. I don't mind one bit. :-)
They figure out pretty quickly if it's just a cage change, and although they look pouty about it, only one will actually try to eat me. The rest just look disgruntled.

[Rapture]

I'm not a big breeder either, but out of my ball pythons it seems that each has its own temperment. I have some that are completely calm all the time and some that seem to just hate the world.

[lord jackel]

I guess I must just have real easy going girls (all 20+). They never miss a meal and always nail the rat as soon as it hits the ground...but open their cage without food and most will come out on their own and crawl onto my hand. I can change their water and clean up spot messes without them going postal.

(I should note that there is always the odd ball who decides to show off how tough she can be but it is never the same one )

I guess every snake is different in this aspect.

[tigerlily]

I've been to Adam's shop and his snakes are NOT mean. (you gotta watch him more than the snakes - I'M JOKING!!! ) There might be one or two you have to keep an eye on, but as a whole they are very easy going.

I only had one breeder myself, but she was snitty before she became a breeder and I haven't noticed any change in her.

[panthercz]

Uhh...I think there is a slight difference between a "feeding response" and just flat out striking at you.

All of my snakes have a great feeding response and eat like pigs, but none of them ever strike at me. But I try to work with them each day so they are as use to me as possible.

[Ginevive]

all of my breeders seem to have great appetites. They are not aggressive; they are looking for a meal when their tub is open. Although, my pastel male stud is hissy when his tub is opened.. so yes, one of my five that were used for breeding this year is snippy

[Emilio]

Out of all of mine I only have one that I have to be careful with when I open her tub.

[Premier_Herps]

I have 65 snakes and about 50 of them are breeders. I would have to say that 2/3 of them are friendly and easy to handle while the other 1/3 of them are a little naughty. One of them is especially mean and can't be handled at all. I believe that lack of handling them plays a role and those who are handled more tend to be more docile.

[bait4snake]

I believe that lack of handling them plays a role and those who are handled more tend to be more docile.

I couldn't have said it better. Just leaving them alone tends to make them more aggressive cuz you're not a part of their day to day harmless environment. By not handling them, you're just another big creature that's trying to eat them, lol.

I don't know if keeping them "aggressive" will make them better breeders, but anything that makes them act like their natural selves probably helps. Maybe I should split up my breeders, handle half of them and ignore the others, and see if it affects their mojo. Then again, I need them all to breed as regularly as possible, so I might as well not stir the pot... any one else willing to take on this study?