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Breeders that breed for temperament

Q

Quixotic

Knowledge Crusader
Anyone know of any? It seems most breeders choose their matchups based on color, patterns, and health. Not saying anything's wrong with that, but I was wondering if there is any known breeder who breeds mainly based on the personality of the snake parents.

I know that hatchlings tend to be more flighty than older snakes, so I'd imagine the bigger breeders don't have the time to investigate each snake for temperament and/or handle them as babies so much. I think out of all the websites and ads I've looked through over this past month I've only seen one that mentions temperament as a factor in breeding choices.

Any thoughts?
 
I am tinkering with it now. I suspect something like this will take many, many generations of selective breeding to even get better ratios. And there's no scientific way to measure behavior. If you are looking for a pet, I'd say your best bet is to choose a sweet baby. There are a few in most every clutch.
 
I have never done it because there are so many other things that I think are worth selecting for. I like to hold back the best eaters with the nicest markings, so temperament isn't really what I think about first. But I see no reason why a patient breeder who is in it for the long haul and has time to work with a few generations of snakes should not be able to achieve a strain of tamer corns- and maybe there is a market for it since it is something new snake buyers sometimes ask about. I usualy steer people who ask me about this towards buying an older snake just because the hatchlings are kind of flighty- which does make it kind of hard to predict which ones of them would be more tame as adults.
 
I don't breed for temperament, but I find out, when a person inquires about a hatchling, what kind of temperament they are comfortable with. Some people, oddly, love hatelings! And since it's very, very, very rare for that trait to persist into adulthood, it's really not much of a risk. Other people want the tamest hatchling, with looks coming in second. If it's a first-time snake owner, I steer them toward a more confident, less flighty baby. I always inform buyers if the baby they like is bitey.

I have a really fun clutch right now, that is unlike any other clutch I have bred. It is my milksnake-phase miami clutch. The babies hover at the fronts of their bins rather than hiding. If I get one out, you can bet the others will beg until I take them out, too. When I open a bin, the baby crawls to the front and into my hand with no hesitation. I can pick them up and it's like picking up a pencil- they don't move! I am really enjoying them and know the ones that have already gone to new homes are much-loved.
 
Nanci, that is a really interesting observation. I've noticed that most of the time, when I am working in my room, a few of the corns will come to the front of the enclosure. I have a few that seem to want play time when they do that none of them will come out to be willingly held consistently though. My new sunglow is super curious when I'm about, she is also Owl's little sister, and he does the same thing once in a while.
 
I am also breeding for temperament and have 3 adults (1 female, 2 males) that have thrown clutches of unusually docile corns so I've a decent start on the project.
 
I'll be starting this as well, as soon as it is safe to breed my unusually sweet female motley to my relaxed and chill snow buddy.
 
Nanci said:
I don't breed for temperament, but I find out, when a person inquires about a hatchling, what kind of temperament they are comfortable with. Some people, oddly, love hatelings! And since it's very, very, very rare for that trait to persist into adulthood, it's really not much of a risk. Other people want the tamest hatchling, with looks coming in second. If it's a first-time snake owner, I steer them toward a more confident, less flighty baby. I always inform buyers if the baby they like is bitey.

I have a really fun clutch right now, that is unlike any other clutch I have bred. It is my milksnake-phase miami clutch. The babies hover at the fronts of their bins rather than hiding. If I get one out, you can bet the others will beg until I take them out, too. When I open a bin, the baby crawls to the front and into my hand with no hesitation. I can pick them up and it's like picking up a pencil- they don't move! I am really enjoying them and know the ones that have already gone to new homes are much-loved.
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Her milksnake phase miami's are like this. I have one Delilah and she is the sweetest most calmest baby ever. She just curls up in the palm of my hand. She will explore but does so at a leisurely pace. She is awesome!
 
Ha ha- I tried to make a little video of one of them to demonstrate their friendliness- the candy cane Baby P. She was so freaked out by my unusual behavior- opening her bin with one hand, camera a foot away- she rattled and struck at me! So much for that idea!
 
lol Even the tamest snake is going to act like that sometimes. I gave away as a "pet only" one of my really sweet females that had retained an egg and I did not want her to be used as a breeder again. The snake had always been the sweetest and friendliest girl but I started receiving emails about how unfriendly she was, rattling, striking, biting. The new owner ended up figuring out that her cat had been sitting on top of the tank and spraying the snake. After getting moved to a cat free room the snake is back to being the sweetie she always was.
 
I would love to get a snake with a guarantee it will be docile!
Although honestly, I am getting a pet and have no plans of breeding. Should I mention that to the breeder when I purchase?
My last pet was a bearded dragon, so I know I'm in for quite a surprise with a snake!:roflmao:
 
Hiki, incredibly rare is the corn that doesn't tame down with repeated handling. For sure point out to the breeder that it's a singular pet, they can pick one that seems nice. Babies are babies, though. I personally would never give a guarantee that any snake would be docile at all times in all circumstances. A yearling corn snake bite is about as painful as a beardie's foot when you pick one up & it holds on. If not for the visual of being bitten by a snake, you would never think twice about it.
 
hikisquid said:
Although honestly, I am getting a pet and have no plans of breeding. Should I mention that to the breeder when I purchase?
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It doesn't hurt to inquire. I wouldn't go with a general "which of your snakes is the most docile?" because that would be fairly time-consuming to find out. But if you ask them whether the snake you're interested in has a good temperament they should be able to tell you. It's what I plan to do anyway, since I'm also looking for a pet and not to breed.
 
Ah thanks for the advice everyone! :)
Yeah my late beardie was disabled, so she was a real handful when she wasn't trying to cuddle. She only bit once, and that was when she missed a treat and grabbed my husband's finger instead. I am definitely looking forward to an animal that can poo all by itself though. >.>
 
Teatime said:
It doesn't hurt to inquire. I wouldn't go with a general "which of your snakes is the most docile?" because that would be fairly time-consuming to find out.
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I disagree. Every clutch has babies that stand out, either as super-sweet or super-hateling. For me- the babies that seek out attention are the ones who end up getting LOTS of attention, and then they just become even more tame! But I try to keep it fair and give everyone a chance to come out and explore and learn what people are all about.
 
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