Temperaments based on Morphs, Parents, etc.

[LLLReptile]

I haven't noticed a correlation between morphs so much as a correlation from parents to offspring.

I definitely noticed a difference in babies from a nervous, shy snake vs. my more outgoing, laid back animals, especially when they were relaxed or outgoing as babies and kept that attitude into adulthood.

-Jen

[SaintTawny]

I am by no means a big breeder but I feel a ball python is a ball python. No matter the paint job the attitude can vary. If you believe morphs/colors can influence overall attitude and actions you are opening a can of worms LOL

It's well documented in cats that coloration affects overall temperament. There are also suggestions that certain breeds of dogs have different attitudes based on their color. I understand we're talking mammals vs. reptiles here, but it's not farfetched to suggest something similar could be happening.

[kylearmbar]

It's well documented in cats that coloration affects overall temperament. There are also suggestions that certain breeds of dogs have different attitudes based on their color. I understand we're talking mammals vs. reptiles here, but it's not farfetched to suggest something similar could be happening.

This is mostly due to hormonal and chemical changes in animals we have chosen to domesticate based on a more submissive demeaner and such that causes changes over a couple generation and the animals hair changes due to our selective breeding. Ball python morphs patterns are found in the wild, it's not something we bred to get that couldn't already happen. After all we don't breed snakes for their temperament, so we are not picking animals with different chemical and hormonal balances. I'm not saying it's not possible, but I think even if it was happening, it'd be much less noticeable.

[SaintTawny]

This is mostly due to hormonal and chemical changes in animals we have chosen to domesticate based on a more submissive demeaner and such that causes changes over a couple generation and the animals hair changes due to our selective breeding. Ball python morphs patterns are found in the wild, it's not something we bred to get that couldn't already happen. After all we don't breed snakes for their temperament, so we are not picking animals with different chemical and hormonal balances. I'm not saying it's not possible, but I think even if it was happening, it'd be much less noticeable.

Actually temperament links with pattern aren't necessarily the result of purposeful breeding, especially in cats. For the most part, cats reproduce freely and randomly with any partner they happen across, with the exception of pedigree cats. The "orange cats are crazy" stereotype arose completely independent of anyone breeding for "crazy" cats, or even orange cats. This can happen because the same gene that controls color in the fur can be read differently in the brain to produce hormones at different rates and even potentially with different structures than a cat with no "orange" gene. Genomes contain an extraordinary amount of coding sequences in a proportionally smaller "space" by having certain sequences serve different purposes in different areas of the body.

[kylearmbar]

Well I mostly referring to canine and other species, but yes cats are different. I always thought that was odd, I think it's linked to how it happens in other animals. Has anyone with multiple snakes of the same morph noticed any personal ity simialarities that are different than species wide?

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[SaintTawny]

I have two female mojaves and one male mojave, and if pressed I might say they were a bit feistier than my other snakes, as they are the ones most likely to strike at me, but that's not necessarily a fair observation, considering those three mojaves are the only ones of my snakes I didn't acquire as hatchlings. All the rest of my collection was around 200g or less when I got them. 1.1 of the Mojos were 500g-ish and 0.1 Mojo was ~700g when I got them.

With regards to other species (besides ball pythons and cats) there is a casual observation at my work where we tend to see "black and tan" miniature pinschers being classicly high-strung, owner-focused, and typically protective of a particular family member. "Red" min pins are usually more mellow, and accepting of strangers. I can't say anyone else notices this trend, but it's a common topic at our hospital.

Also, another casual observation, I've noticed that the boyfriend's red-colored cornsnakes tend to be more mobile and snappy while we're cleaning their tubs.

[Mischa]

It's possible, my BP Boris is about 18 months now with a very dark brown in his color pattern and he's aggressive as hell! I have no idea what's wrong. He's just extremely cranky most of the time. He's bitten me twice and hisses like crazy about every other time I try to take him out. I'm not sure what to do about it. I thought maybe he's blind and thus very frightened of everything, but maybe it's just the way he is...idk

I thought about putting another snake in with him but that could end in one of them being hurt so I don't know what to do other than to be very patient and kind with Boris.

-Mischa

[queenelvis82]

I heard that Albinos tend to be more temperamental than other snakes because of the T negative gene. Did anybody else hear of this?

[SaintTawny]

I thought about putting another snake in with him

Most people wouldn't recommend this even with a "nice" snake. Keeping two ball pythons together is considered extremely advanced husbandry, and 99.9% of keepers just aren't able to make it work. Improperly done, it will stress out both snakes which can make them both more "aggressive" and less willing to eat properly. The only reason to keep two snakes together is the very temporary basis of breeding, a few days together, a few days apart for a little while until ultimately they're housed separately again.

That said, even if keeping two ball pythons together were easy, it wouldn't do anything to help your snake "calm down". They're not social creatures, and having another snake in his space won't make him any friendlier to you, it doesn't fulfill any needs for him. Breeding him isn't going to help his temperament either. It's just a matter of gentle exposure and ensuring he recognizes that you're not a threat.

Edit: It's also helpful to make sure all of his needs ARE currently being met. Appropriate temperatures, humidity, sufficient hiding spaces and clutter in his cage, available water, and appropriate feeding amounts and frequencies.

[kylearmbar]

SaintTawny, are your mojos siblings? I have two fires, siblings, but night and day difference in temperament

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