Worms verses Mice

[guidofatherof5]

Just wondering if anyone else has seen a difference in attitudes when feeding mice verses worms.
My radixes love eating worms but when it comes to mice(pinkies-fuzzies) it a whole different thing.
Yes, they are aggressive eaters with worms and salmon.

Show them a pinky or fuzzy and you better be prepared for major aggression. They attack it with much more speed and voracity. The size of the food doesn't matter. Young and older alike. The reaction is the same.
Any ideas on the different behavior? They also seem to want mice more often than worms.

[gregmonsta]

It's probably evolved through the need to subdue rodent prey quickly ... a rodent can do serious damage so it needs to be neutralised more rapidly than a squiggly worm or a gummy fish

[guidofatherof5]

It's probably evolved through the need to subdue rodent prey quickly ... a rodent can do serious damage so it needs to be neutralised more rapidly than a squiggly worm or a gummy fish

Makes sense.
I just don't think many people would consider a Gater snake as a mouse eater. Not their main food items. I can just imagine a large Garter coming across a nest of baby mice and having a field day. Mine would eat mice everytime if I let them.
In my area large radixes are common. They probably have a great impact on the rodent populations in the area. Just another reason to protect them from harm.

[gregmonsta]

I can just imagine a large Garter coming across a nest of baby mice and having a field day.

if it moves and smells tasty it must be eaten!!!

[misskris]

I don't know. Simone seems more agressive with the worms than the pinks. I think because the worms are thrashing and wiggling. She eats her pinks like a perfect lady, while she'll fly across the cage and attack the worms.

[adamanteus]

I think if I have seen a difference in feeding behaviour between different food items, then I would have to say that worms and frogs seem to illicit the most aggressive response.... especially the later.
Many of my Garters are quite gentle at meal times and can be offered pinkies from my fingers... I wouldn't dare do this with a frog.... they'd have my arm off!

[guidofatherof5]

I think if I have seen a difference in feeding behaviour between different food items, then I would have to say that worms and frogs seem to illicit the most aggressive response.... especially the later.
Many of my Garters are quite gentle at meal times and can be offered pinkies from my fingers... I wouldn't dare do this with a frog.... they'd have my arm off!

Wow, I thought for sure I would have a lot of people with the same situation as me. I wonder if there's something wrong with my radixes
I've never tried frogs but am going to get some tadpoles this spring when the family goes herping just north(18 miles) of our home.
Thanks to everyone for their input, so far.

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol yeah meadow loves frogs

[mtolypetsupply]

I think that Shannon just raises polite snakes.

Both sets of mine slowly approach, flick the tongue, and begin their meal. I don't have aggressive feeders, just shameless gluttons.

I will say they get agitated/excited *before* getting into the feeding tub, I guess when they smell dinner, but once they get in there, they have rather nice manners.

[guidofatherof5]

I think that Shannon just raises polite snakes.

Both sets of mine slowly approach, flick the tongue, and begin their meal. I don't have aggressive feeders, just shameless gluttons.

I will say they get agitated/excited *before* getting into the feeding tub, I guess when they smell dinner, but once they get in there, they have rather nice manners.

I guess I'm just raising a bunch of ruffians, manorless little hoodlums, anti-social deviants, law breaking miscreants, the dredge of radix society. I've failed them. And all this from a law enforcement officer. I hang my head in shame.

I'm sorry I have to go now. The pinkies are thawed and my lovely radixes want fed.