more thoughts on this

Posted by Dean Alessandrini on January 17, 2002 at 13:35:33:

In Reply to: More on Fred's point posted by Doug T on January 17, 2002 at 12:39:40:

It's been proven that snakes in captivity act differently than their wild cousins.

Their instincts change to best serve themselves in their tiny little sterile environment. Although in the wild they may have hunted by sight, they do not need to...and...I believe lose a lot of their natural talents and instincts.

I've had indigos get all excited when they know I have food...and bite at my hand instead of the f/t rat dangling from it. I think they have become so conditioned that they completely associate my hand with food.

I sometimes think they'd eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich if I jiggled it front of them.
as if they think "if he's jiggling it...it's gotta be food!"

Sad to say, but they wouldn't last a day in the wild. They'd probably swagger up to some bobcat or fox like..."hmmmm...never saw one quite that big before, I wonder if I can swallow it"

Instincts adjust to the given environment in a pretty short period.

Indigos are certainly alert and even inquisitive snakes though. I think they'd be ALOT more interesting if we could observe them in the wild!

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• Excellent responses and... Digomania 01/18/02 (0)

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: It's been proven that snakes in captivity act differently than their wild cousins. : Their instincts change to best serve themselves in their tiny little sterile environment. Although in the wild they may have hunted by sight, they do not need to...and...I believe lose a lot of their natural talents and instincts. : I've had indigos get all excited when they know I have food...and bite at my hand instead of the f/t rat dangling from it. I think they have become so conditioned that they completely associate my hand with food. : I sometimes think they'd eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich if I jiggled it front of them. : as if they think "if he's jiggling it...it's gotta be food!" : Sad to say, but they wouldn't last a day in the wild. They'd probably swagger up to some bobcat or fox like..."hmmmm...never saw one quite that big before, I wonder if I can swallow it" : Instincts adjust to the given environment in a pretty short period. : Indigos are certainly alert and even inquisitive snakes though. I think they'd be ALOT more interesting if we could observe them in the wild!

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