Aggression Genetic or Learnt?

I have heard a lot that aggression is a genetic trait that can be breed out by selective breeding. However I saw a YouTube video where a guy claimed in the description that aggression is a learnt trait and he had left offspring with aggressive parent and all the offspring turned out nasty but when he took the litters from an aggressive parents and had them fostered by non-aggressive parents that all the babies turned out non-aggressive as well. I don't have any ASF yet but I found that interesting and wanted to see if anyone else has done this or has any knowledge of such?

With ASF's, Just hold them and make sure to spend time with all the babies for a little bit and they will not be aggressive.

On Netflix there is a show called dogs decoded that deals with the genetic aspect. They showed with foxes that it can be bred into an animal. A pretty convincing argument that at least some of behavior is genetic. However it can also be a learned behavior as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sama

On Netflix there is a show called dogs decoded that deals with the genetic aspect. They showed with foxes that it can be bred into an animal. A pretty convincing argument that at least some of behavior is genetic. However it can also be a learned behavior as well.

---

I have seen that show before and it's really interesting and is the example I usually think of when is comes to breeding for tameness( I'd love to have one of those foxes too!).

I've also taken a couple psychology classes last year in college and that's opened my mind to the nature vs nurture argument. That has opened my mind too idea that it could at least be somewhat learnt. It would be and interesting experiment.

It's definitely influenced by genetics. Regular rats pass on their personalities to offspring, which is something I've witnessed firsthand. I don't handle my ASF colony much at all, but I feed off any aggressive ones. Now I have a bunch of soft furs that I can pick up (by the tail) with bare hands and not worry about getting charged/attacked. I can rest them on the back of my hand as well without fear of being bitten.

- - - Updated - - -

Handling them from birth is also very helpful, though. I think it's a combination of genetics and handling.

i have been working with my asf handling them picking them up all that good stuff and i can reach in there and pick them up no problem unless they have babies