Re: Ball python cannibalism
Quote:
Originally Posted by elevatethis
Have you ever personally experienced a necropsy on a ball python, or any other animal for that matter? How would you know what an empty stomach looks like?
Well Im just saying it "looks" empty. Not saying it is. Just it does. No decaying food no "moosh" from digested food just the big bp in the smalller bp's stomach.And thats why I was wopndering if the snake was full in the article the guy posted. Also I have studied the insides of animals and I know what digested food looks like. But never studied snake. But thats why I am only wondering. We cant all think we're because someone says thats the answer without actually us all comparing data. But only having 1 Bp and never housing to snakes of any kind together I wouldn't know.
Re: Ball python cannibalism
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapphire7
And if I did I wouldnt anyway because I think we all diserve our own bedrooms. And I remember when my kids were growing up they'd fight eachother and it reminds me how snakes react (without actual killing)
Haven't we heard enough human to snake analogies for one day??? ;)
Re: Ball python cannibalism
Quote:
Originally Posted by elevatethis
Haven't we heard enough human to snake analogies for one day??? ;)
That was only saying. I was just saying hmm snakes also get stressed if housed togetehr (if they're not hungry) and so do humans.. not saying it in defense for myself or for you. Just saying.
Re: Ball python cannibalism
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapphire7
When Ball pythons are taken from the wild I read that they can be found together in a hole. And so Im only trying to get more educated than I already am. And I like to have a further understanding about these snakes.:)
That's an easy one. Breeding season. One female - multiple males. The males are competing to be with the female.
Re: Ball python cannibalism
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapphire7
I never said anything of the like. I just wanted proof. It looks like the snake seemed to be hungry. And ONLY wanted to know if they were full when the Bp killed and ate another Bp.... People always have a way to twist words of others:(
Ball pythons are specifically designed to prey on warm blooded animals. They have labial pits that are designed to help them hunt and prey on warm blooded animals like rodents ... there has yet to be a field study where ball pythons were found with any type of reptile species in their stomach contents. Snakes that eat other snakes are limited to a very specific number of species and are highly specialized to do so.
A "hungry" snake will not just consume anything placed in the enclsoure with it, it has to recognize the food item as a familiar prey type.
When a ball python swallows another snake it's the result of stress, not because it was "hungry" in any way shape or form .. even if it's stomach contents were empty.
-adam
Re: Ball python cannibalism
Hmmm, thats very understanding. What about the larger snakes that mistake their handlers for food and the handlers do not smell like food themselves? Isnt it the warm body heat? Lets say you have a warm snake in your hands and then put the snake on the warm end of the tank and then it slithers to the cooler end where the other snake is at then the other snake (that was on the cooler end) sees the warm body heat and strike out of hunger? What do you think of that one? (Im not trying to have hair pulling just trying to get a better understanding:) ):tricho:
Re: Ball python cannibalism
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapphire7
When Ball pythons are taken from the wild I read that they can be found together in a hole. And so Im only trying to get more educated than I already am. And I like to have a further understanding about these snakes.:)
Just because they are found together in a hole, doesn't mean they are being forced to live together ... other than during breeding season, multiple ball pythons can be found in the same space due to a older more dominant animal moving in and trying to get the younger snakes to leave by dominating them. This domination eventually causes enough stress to the younger/weaker animals that they leave, allowing the older/stronger animal to take over residence of what he/she feels is "prime real estate" ... in captive environments when multiple ball pythons are housed together, this same behavior is replicated as it would occur in the wild (100% instinct) ... except the younger/weaker animals have no where to go and they become incredibly stressed ... this stress can lead to cannibalism.
-adam
Re: Ball python cannibalism
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapphire7
Hmmm, thats very understanding. What about the larger snakes that mistake their handlers for food and the handlers do not smell like food themselves? Isnt it the warm body heat? Lets say you have a warm snake in your hands and then put the snake on the warm end of the tank and then it slithers to the cooler end where the other snake is at then the other snake (that was on the cooler end) sees the warm body heat and strike out of hunger? What do you think of that one? (Im not trying to have hair pulling just trying to get a better understanding:) ):tricho:
A snake does not radiate heat like a warm blooded mammal does ... the other snake simply won't "see" it.
-adam
Re: Ball python cannibalism
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki
Just because they are found together in a hole, doesn't mean they are being forced to live together ... other than during breeding season, multiple ball pythons can be found in the same space due to a older more dominant animal moving in and trying to get the younger snakes to leave by dominating them. This domination eventually causes enough stress to the younger/weaker animals that they leave, allowing the older/stronger animal to take over residence of what he/she feels is "prime real estate" ... in captive environments when multiple ball pythons are housed together, this same behavior is replicated as it would occur in the wild (100% instinct) ... except the younger/weaker animals have no where to go and they become incredibly stressed ... this stress can lead to cannibalism.
-adam
Ahhhh - the grasshopper has learned something new today!!! (that would be me) :rockon:
Re: Ball python cannibalism
And sorry if I am upsetting anyone. Im just trying to figure out some things. Because I always thought snakes didnt kill because they are stressed but because they are hungry.
