Hey guys,

a thread I answered before about handling snakes (http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...python-relaxed.) actually made me think a little bit.
If we consider that dogs cats and other pets have been kept for hundreds of years as pets. Like also horses have been trained for thousands of years to get them where they are now. They know how to listen, how to act in the present of humans, etc... If we check how long the reptile industrie is going on and how long people have been keeping snakes as pets. Would it be possible that also our snakes would get more and more comfortable with handling as the hobby goes further in time? I don't mean like sit and roll over trick's but you know, getting less stressed in our presence, getting attached to the owner etc..

Myself, I think it would be possible. If you see the progress in some of the nippy little bastards. Most of the time when they grow (especially when treated right and handled regularly) they kinda get used to getting handled. Could this, over a whole lot of time (i'm really talking about 100 years minimum), also change there insticts like it has done with dogs (check wild dogs vs. labrador). I really think there is a point in the family tree where the cause of habit will take over the instinct. Not necessary all the way, but at least to the point where a dog gets to enjoy a nice chuck over the head...

What do you guys/girls think?