Classical Conditioning experiment

Alright..don't laugh at me just yet :P ...but ever since I got my BP and started feeding her, I wondered if I could condition her to know that it's feeding time. I feed her in a separate box, not in her normal enclosure. I started to notice that her behavior would instantly change the moment she was placed in the box. At first, she would stick her head straight up and watch my every move until I dropped the mouse in, to which she would strike immediately. Today, I noticed a different behavior. Instead of sticking her head up, awaiting her prey, she instantly moved to the striking position. No movement whatsoever, until the mouse was dropped in. Again, instantly struck. So I began to believe that she had been conditioned to know that the box = feeding time. I then considered that it wasn't necessarily the box...but the lingering smell of past prey that may still be present in the box. Chances are, if the box smells like mice...then she's relating the smell to feeding time, rather than the box itself.
Has anybody else noticed something along these lines with their BP or are you aware of any actual experiments that have already been conducted regarding snakes and classical conditioning?

I think my next step is going to be switching the box next week and seeing if I still get a similar reaction from her. I may just be crazy...but I think it would be interesting to test out. :rolleyes:

Tagging to see future results

I have a friend whom works for a zoo they tap train their big snakes. Before feeding they tap the side of the enclosure with the feeding tongs 3 times then feed and tap again. They have no feeding reaction with out the tapping and lots with it.

I've done the whole feeding in tub versus out of tub with numerous corns over the years out of curiosity. Some are smarter than others and don't condition so much. I have also seen quite a few that, when fed in the tub, will go into feeding mode the moment I open it up. Those are corns, however, and they have a much stronger feeding response normally than bp's do. With my bp's, I'm too worried about them going off food to take them out though I have one who will crawl out of her tub and go choose her rat right off the plate. Shy isn't in her vocabulary where food is concerned. May have to experiment with her...

Ahhh, so it can indeed be done! That's awesome! Thanks for the information! :D

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I have a friend whom works for a zoo they tap train their big snakes. Before feeding they tap the side of the enclosure with the feeding tongs 3 times then feed and tap again. They have no feeding reaction with out the tapping and lots with it.

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Never thought about that but it makes sense. Easier to handle them if they aren't looking for food so if they don't hear the tap, they knows it's just routine stuff.

My routine is to let the mouse thaw in a baggy inside a tupperware of hot water. I have the tongs set on top the weight the baggy down. If Allure sees me put the tupperware up on his stand in front of the tank he will come out of his hide and stay right at the glass and watch my every move. He also knows every five days is feeding day. I'm amazed at how well he knows it. Last feeding day I woke up and he saw start to get out of bed. He then started striking and reaching up to the top of his tank. I was like ok dude calm down, it's coming.

I have fed in separate tubs and noticed similar reactions with my ball pythons. I feed f/t so I kind of think the smell of thawing rodents tends to get them excited. I found that ball pythons can be fairly easily conditioned to feeding in a separate location. I would actually encourage people who use aquariums to feed in a separate tub/tank. If you use a rack system it doesn't make too much difference to them in my opinion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I have a friend whom works for a zoo they tap train their big snakes. Before feeding they tap the side of the enclosure with the feeding tongs 3 times then feed and tap again. They have no feeding reaction with out the tapping and lots with it.

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Big snakes aren't the same as ball pythons though. I'm picturing by big snake you mean like a retic, for example? They're smarter than balls from what i've read

yes retics and rocks but also the bloods. I don't think it matters even goldfish can be conditioned.