Ah, I didn't mean to seem like I was down on exotics and their abilities. Just the moments when that gulf in understanding becomes apparent are the most frustrating to me, as a keeper. When you have a bad handling session or they get scared or upset by something you're doing, and you can't make them understand. But just like Neko_snake was saying, there's also moments when you realize this undomesticated animal, with most of its wild instincts still intact, decides to trust you, it's really awesome. Like the other night I offered a rat to my guy, knowing he was early in shed and might not take it. He had a lengthy will-he-won't-he of stalking and retreating, I dropped the rat and left him to it, and he apparently got frustrated and dragged it all over the enclosure getting quite avant-garde with rat juices all over everything, then stuffed himself behind some decorations and sulked. I took everything out, cleaned it, tossed the rat, and when I went to put him back in, he looked at his tank and doubled back up my arm and climbed into my sweatshirt pocket instead (I often carry him around in there but he's never gotten in on his own before). After an apparently frustrating night, given the choice of going back to his familiar enclosure or hanging out with me awhile, he picked the latter. Little things like that just make you go "this is amazing" despite some of the frustrations.
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