Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is sort of in relation to the Drymachon vs. Lampropeltis talk. One thing to consider is that in most cases snakes don't defend themselves against similar size creatures instead they choose to flee. That is one reason why rodents chew on snakes much larger then themselves if the snake isn't hungry The snake will take quite a few defensive bites from a rodent & still kill it to eat if it is hungry but will just lay there & be eaten if it isn't hungry & can't get away. I've noticed this w/ most snakes for instance my elaphe o.obselta will shred my skin if I go to pick it up but when a smaller king grabbed it it just tryed to flee the snakes were removed from each other. The same could be said about when 2 snakes meet more then likely the one doing the traking is more then likely the one that is hungry. The one being persued will in most cases not be. However if it is then the fight may be fair. Kingsnakes are not as immune to venom as we think shucks. The rattler just doesn't defend itself against another snake. I've seen the results of rats chewing on gaboon vipers b/c the snake just didn't defend itself. I wonder if they only precieve larger creatures as a threat & thus defend them selves against us. They may not precieve smaller or similar size creatures as a threat. You figure lampropeltis can be another lamps. enemy yet they can be found under the same log. I believe it comes down to a lack of defense on the part of the snake being eaten. Just a theory but very observable.

I caught a FL King earlier this year and tried to feed it rat pups from the same area. Instead of trying to eat the rat pups, it made defensive strikes at them, rattling its tail and all. This snake did not once try to bite me when I first caught it. I don't think size has too much to do with it.