In captivity snakes do not choose less then, unless they are sick or physically not supported by us keepers.



With animals, biology judges animals success by the level of reproduction, not simple reproduction. If a population is at the higher levels of reproduction(recruitment) is a successful population. If its at the lower levels, its considered an unhealthy or declining population. The lower levels are considered "endangered"



So I question why folks think, "works" is good. As someone who works with ethology, there are normal reasons for this, some keepers do not have a high opinion of their own abilities, so they accept minimal levels of success as good or enough. And they may not have a high opinion of the animals. So again, they expect less.



When Bluerosy and I battle this area on here, its because we both have a very high opinion of the snakes and our abilities to allow our captives to reach levels above minimum. Husbandry is a learned skill and we keepers are no where near the top of the learning curve. So why do keepers have such low expectations of the animals and their own abilities? So yes Billy, you and I will never agree and its not about ego and anything like that. Its simply because you have such low expectations of these wonderful animals and their enormous potential. And possibly of your own abilities. So your argument of, "it works" is a bit minimalistic. And you sir, can do better then that.

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