I agree that there has to be some survival strategy for the species when there are relatively large numbers (maybe 5% - 10%, depending on bloodlines) that don't want to feed on "normal" food - mice, or at least prefer some other prey.

I theorize that there is likely survival value (for the species, not always the individual) by Mother Nature "programming" some babies to want to feed on something different than a lot of the other babies want. What if some strange conditions happened that caused an extinction of mice, but but a proliferation of frogs? Or tuna fish, lol?? Or maybe some other even stranger food item. If no babies wanted to eat the suddenly common food, the species could die out. However, if some were programmed to eat "weird stuff", then the species might survive new conditions. OTOH, if conditions stay the same, only a few individuals will be sacrificed for the good of all.

Wild snakes may survive fine on lizards and frogs, but I don't want to emphasize that feeding trait in my bloodlines. By selecting Miami phase that have been good pinkie feeders (over many generations), I now find that most babies will start on pinks, unlike in the "old days". Same thing with most bloodreds. I think you could do just the opposite by choosing lizard feeders over many generations for your breeding stock.

Just some things to think about.

[ Hide Replies ]

• force feeding? - WEEBEASTIES, Wed Jul 19 15:42:00 2006
• RE: force feeding? - MikeRusso, Wed Jul 19 16:13:18 2006
• RE: force feeding? - WEEBEASTIES, Wed Jul 19 16:35:52 2006
• RE: force feeding? - duffy, Wed Jul 19 16:53:17 2006
• RE: force feeding? - WEEBEASTIES, Wed Jul 19 18:08:48 2006
• Pnkie heads are fairly easy... - kathylove, Wed Jul 19 20:50:03 2006
• Kathy..... - xblackheart, Wed Jul 19 21:40:24 2006
• RE: Force Feeding Dependance? - Rivets55, Wed Jul 19 23:49:36 2006
• RE: Force Feeding Dependance? - draybar, Thu Jul 20 18:10:56 2006
• RE: Force Feeding Dependance? - xblackheart, Thu Jul 20 20:48:43 2006
• RE: Force Feeding Dependance? - draybar, Fri Jul 21 05:45:11 2006
• RE: Force Feeding Dependance? - xblackheart, Fri Jul 21 16:36:04 2006
• In my experience... - kathylove, Thu Jul 20 09:10:49 2006
• RE: In my experience... - Pastorpat, Thu Jul 20 14:30:08 2006
• RE: In my experience... - Rivets55, Thu Jul 20 18:52:59 2006
• Species survival value of non-feeders... - kathylove, Thu Jul 20 22:06:45 2006
• RE: Species survival value of non-feeders... - xblackheart, Fri Jul 21 00:33:22 2006
• RE: Species survival value of non-feeders... - Rivets55, Fri Jul 21 00:35:40 2006
• Thank you for the response........n/p - xblackheart, Thu Jul 20 20:50:31 2006
• RE: force feeding? - chunkie_fuzz, Tue Jul 25 21:25:30 2006