Are ball pythons a domesticated species?

[TMoore]

I just wanted to see what everyone here thought about ball pythons being considered a domesticated species.

Do you consider the ball pythons you have in your collection to be domesticated animals?

I personally don't think they are.

[Ranegyr]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/domesticated+animal

domesticated animal - any of various animals that have been tamed and made fit for a human environment

i say no because i don't feel that a BP is tame. it is able to be handled, but so is a rhino at the zoo. but i wouldn't let a rhino loose in my apt with my 3 year old. i also don't let my beloved BP's loose in the apt unattended. The cats are a different story. Actually, i think they run the place.

[Shadera]

I don't consider them domesticated. Neither are my parrots.

[Freakie_frog]

This is from wikipedia

According to evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond, animal species must meet six criteria in order to be considered for domestication:
1. Flexible diet — Creatures that are willing to consume a wide variety of food sources and can live off less cumulative food from the food pyramid (such as corn or wheat) are less expensive to keep in captivity. Carnivores by their very nature only feed on meat, which requires the expenditure of many animals.
2. Reasonably fast growth rate — Fast maturity rate compared to the human life span allows breeding intervention and makes the animal useful within an acceptable duration of caretaking. Large animals such as elephants require many years before they reach a useful size.
3. Ability to be bred in captivity — Creatures that are reluctant to breed when kept in captivity do not produce useful offspring, and instead are limited to capture in their wild state. Creatures such as the panda, antelope and giant forest hogs are territorial when breeding and cannot be maintained in crowded enclosures in captivity.
4. Pleasant disposition — Large creatures that are aggressive toward humans are dangerous to keep in captivity. The African buffalo has an unpredictable nature and is highly dangerous to humans. Although similar to domesticated pigs in many ways, American peccaries and Africa's warthogs and bushpigs are also dangerous in captivity.
5. Temperament which makes it unlikely to panic — A creature with a nervous disposition is difficult to keep in captivity as they will attempt to flee whenever they are startled. The gazelle is very flighty and it has a powerful leap that allows it to escape an enclosed pen. Some animals, such as Domestic sheep, still have a strong tendency to panic when their flight zone is crossed. However, most sheep also show a flocking instinct, whereby they stay close together when pressed. Livestock with such an instinct may be herded by people and dogs.
6. Modifiable social hierarchy — Social creatures that recognize a hierarchy of dominance can be raised to recognize a human as the pack leader.

The last one is the reason reptiles will never be concidered "Domestic".

[Ranegyr]

out of curiosity, i would love to know why the two yes's belive to.

[Egapal]

Yeah not even close. Although I think that the definition that Freakie_Frog quoted for us is more rigid than most people would accept I think that BP's are way off the mark. Cats for instance are not domestic as they do not recognize a social hierarchy and they do not have a flexible diet, but your average person would say that they are domesticated because they thrive along side humans and the modern pet food industry has made a dry food that fits their dietary needs readily available to those in industrialized nations.

Ball pythons on the other hand, have a very specific diet and do not readily take their specific diet unless conditions are provided that are not easy nore useful to humans. They also do not recognize hierarchy at all.

Domestic animals have a trait that can be exploited to the benefit of humans. Although I still consider them far from domesticated their instinct to ball could be considered a trait that is advantageous to humans. Unfortunately that trait only serves to make them of an acceptable temperament for humans.

Domestic animals also have a purpose and BP have none except indulging their owners desire to keep them. Their slow metabolism makes them suck at rodent control which would be about their only possible use.

[Sophiax]

I voted no - they're not domesticated. I think some *could* be considered tame, however... as in, with regular handling and interaction, they recognize the safety of their surroundings... therefore modified behavior. Sort of like cats, who I also consider tame rather than domesticated.

To me, a domesticated animal is one that is wholly integrated with human society to the point of the entire species i.e. dogs, who are not their wolf ancestors.

[TMoore]

I agree with everyone so far.

To the people who think that ball pythons are a domesticated species can you explain why.

[Jsh]

I voted no. --Josh

[southb]

I don't think you can really use a clip from wikipedia on this one. Tamed yes, domesticated........not so sure. My pythons will not strike or bite me, but you take one from the wilds of Africa, would it be more inclined to do that? Maybe.......at least my wild boas are always pissed off and the ones I've raised are very nice. And if the posts above is correct, what do you say to a dog that turns on it's owner? I'm riding the fence lol.