What feels good to a snake?

[NargleBeliever]

Hi everyone,

I'm curious about whether or not there are ways to "pet" your snake or otherwise interact with it in a way that feels good to the snake. With a dog, you would scratch behind its ears, rub its belly, etc. Are there particular spots or movements that would give your snake a similarly enjoyable experience?

This is all with the assumption that the snake knows you and is comfortable being handled by you, of course.

Thanks!

[alessia55]

I believe snakes do not enjoy being handled. The ones that appear to enjoy it are merely tolerating it because they have learned you are not a threat. Similarly, snakes do not have the same emotions as dogs, so they do not feel love or pleasure in the same way your pet dog would.

[jpsteele80]

I believe snakes do not enjoy being handled. The ones that appear to enjoy it are merely tolerating it because they have learned you are not a threat. Similarly, snakes do not have the same emotions as dogs, so they do not feel love or pleasure in the same way your pet dog would.

I would slightly have to disagree with this, I think reptiles are not given enough credit and people have the assumption that they don't feel anything, my example of this is tank the snapping turtle, this turtle obviously has feeling and emotions towards his owner, yes it may be a rare case but it does happen so what's to say that a snake may not have emotions as well?

[MDT]

I believe snakes do not enjoy being handled. The ones that appear to enjoy it are merely tolerating it because they have learned you are not a threat. Similarly, snakes do not have the same emotions as dogs, so they do not feel love or pleasure in the same way your pet dog would.


This. What feels good to a snake? Not messing w it. Anything else is simply tolerance. Trying to ascribe anything other to it is simply anthropomorphizing.

[wrecker45]

I think snakes enjoy our body heat.

[jpsteele80]

This. What feels good to a snake? Not messing w it. Anything else is simply tolerance. Trying to ascribe anything other to it is simply anthropomorphizing.

So do we have any scientific evidence that they don't like being picked up or taken outside, no we don't and we never will because they can't communicate with us. I think everything is just an assumption, as babies when they are scared they bite, well why when they get bigger they usually quit doing it, is it possibly because they get comfortable with us and trust us or maybe even like us? I don't know and I can't say for sure and I don't think anyone really can give a definitive answer. Now unless your some sort of snake whisperer and we don't know it how can you say what you said and be 100% right?

[Mikoh4792]

So do we have any scientific evidence that they don't like being picked up or taken outside, no we don't and we never will because they can't communicate with us. I think everything is just an assumption, as babies when they are scared they bite, well why when they get bigger they usually quit doing it, is it possibly because they get comfortable with us and trust us or maybe even like us? I don't know and I can't say for sure and I don't think anyone really can give a definitive answer. Now unless your some sort of snake whisperer and we don't know it how can you say what you said and be 100% right?

Null Hypothesis. The burden of proof is on the person positing that snakes do enjoy being handled or interacting with their owners.. I'm not saying they don't, but until evidence is provided I remain skeptical.

[jpsteele80]

Null Hypothesis. The burden of proof is on the person positing that snakes do have feelings of empathy or love towards their owners. I'm not saying they don't, but until evidence is provided I remain skeptical.

I totally agree with you but that's also a 2 way street, how can anyone prove that they don't? I don't know either way but it obviously has been proven that Some Reptiles Can Have feelings, whether snake's do or don't I have no way of knowing just like those that say they don't also have no way of knowing.

[MDT]

JP...this has been beat to death on many threads here before. Not going down that path again. My reasoning is based off of the neuroanatomy of the reptilian brain compared to those of higher vertebrates and the capacity to express emotions. Now, if someone else has a differing opinion, that's cool. It just may not be congruent w mine, but no biggie. If they can cohereantly discuss their opinon, great. If they simply say "my snake loves it when I __________, so therefore they have feelings"...I can't take that seriously. But I don't lose sleep over it.

[Mikoh4792]

I totally agree with you but that's also a 2 way street, how can anyone prove that they don't? I don't know either way but it obviously has been proven that Some Reptiles Can Have feelings, whether snake's do or don't I have no way of knowing just like those that say they don't also have no way of knowing.

It's a two way street when the other side posits that snakes do not feel these things. I am not saying they don't, I just remain unconvinced. It'd be interesting if people had conclusive evidence on what's really going on inside snake's brains. Until we do know for sure, I think we should be open to the possibility but not jump to conclusions at the same time. But on the face of it all, I see no signs of empathy, or enjoyment from handling/interaction in snakes.

[jpsteele80]

I'm not trying to argue with you at all, and I agree with the fact of people saying my snake loves this or that that you can't prove anything by that, my whole point is that we just don't really know for sure and I honestly don't think we ever will

[Mikoh4792]

I'm not trying to argue with you at all, and I agree with the fact of people saying my snake loves this or that that you can't prove anything by that, my whole point is that we just don't really know for sure and I honestly don't think we ever will

I agree with you as well, except for the last statement lol. I think we will acquire the right technology in the future to determine these things.

[jpsteele80]

I agree with you as well, except for the last statement lol. I think we will acquire the right technology in the future to determine these things.

It will be very interesting if the day that technology ever arrives

[Jim Smith]

I agree with MDT and Alessia 100% on this one. At best, a snake tolerates being held. They don't initiate the interaction unless they think there's food involved. If I even look at one of my dogs, they will start wagging their tails and eventually come over to me to be petted or have their ears scratched. I've never seen or heard of a snake showing affection towards another species. Attraction to body heat is not affection. It's no different than them going towards a warm hide if they are cool. Just one man's opinion...

[Derek Roddy]

my whole point is that we just don't really know for sure and I honestly don't think we ever will

We do know for sure.

Plenty of studies have been done on what is and isn't possible for the reptile brain. I suggest reading up on it. Plenty of those studies provided on the interweb.

D

[pdomensis]

Hi everyone,

I'm curious about whether or not there are ways to "pet" your snake or otherwise interact with it in a way that feels good to the snake. With a dog, you would scratch behind its ears, rub its belly, etc. Are there particular spots or movements that would give your snake a similarly enjoyable experience?

This is all with the assumption that the snake knows you and is comfortable being handled by you, of course.

Thanks!

Avoiding the whole snake psychology discussion, there are definitely ways you can handle a snake that cause them stress, ie quick movements either by the handler or those around you, coming at them from above, etc. Mine also flinch at touches near the head or on the back.

The best way to handle them is to be a tree, slow moving and supportive, especially in the mid-section where the weight is.

[jpsteele80]

We do know for sure.

Plenty of studies have been done on what is and isn't possible for the reptile brain. I suggest reading up on it. Plenty of those studies provided on the interweb.

D

scientists agree and disagree all the time, so I guess we can agree to disagree

[jpsteele80]

Avoiding the whole snake psychology discussion, there are definitely ways you can handle a snake that cause them stress, ie quick movements either by the handler or those around you, coming at them from above, etc. Mine also flinch at touches near the head or on the back.

The best way to handle them is to be a tree, slow moving and supportive, especially in the mid-section where the weight is.

I have to say thanks for this comment, you just proved my point a little, you can stress a snake out, stress in an emotion/feeling so to say snakes don't feel anything is irrelevant

[Mikoh4792]

I have to say thanks for this comment, you just proved my point a little, you can stress a snake out, stress in an emotion/feeling so to say snakes don't feel anything is irrelevant

I'd say that's a bit different though. Having one emotion does not necessarily entail having all emotions. Stress is necessary, affection in non-social animals is not.

Not only that, signs of stress in snakes is obvious. Being defensive, hissing, refusing meals, always hiding...etc are all signs of stress. We don't really see that with regards to affection and enjoyment of handling. When snakes are handled they act the same way they would if they were just cruising around their enclosure.

[jpsteele80]

Never said they felt all emotions, Just saying I do think they feel stuff, like I mentioned before, look at tanks story, that is totally uncommon for a snapping turtle to act that way, and maybe turtles have a higher capacity to feel things I don't know, these are just my views and I'm not trying to push them on anyone and hopefully one day I'm proven right, if I'm proven wrong I'll gladly tell all of you I was wrong :)

[Mikoh4792]

Never said they felt all emotions, Just saying I do think they feel stuff, like I mentioned before, look at tanks story, that is totally uncommon for a snapping turtle to act that way, and maybe turtles have a higher capacity to feel things I don't know, these are just my views and I'm not trying to push them on anyone and hopefully one day I'm proven right, if I'm proven wrong I'll gladly tell all of you I was wrong :)

Maybe turtles and other reptiles do, but right now I'm just talking about the absence of signs of affection from snakes.

[pdomensis]

I have to say thanks for this comment, you just proved my point a little, you can stress a snake out, stress in an emotion/feeling so to say snakes don't feel anything is irrelevant

I wasn't trying to bolster anyones argument, just provide some info to the OP. :)

[Karighan]

They have recently proven that snakes do have the capacity to play, and derive mental stimulation from activities such as shoving around a wiffle ball and stuff like that. You can look up the recent findings on google.

This isn't to say that they have the mental acuity to feel emotion, but they do have some higher brain function being used.

[pdomensis]

They have recently proven that snakes do have the capacity to play, and derive mental stimulation from activities such as shoving around a wiffle ball and stuff like that. You can look up the recent findings on google.

This isn't to say that they have the mental acuity to feel emotion, but they do have some higher brain function being used.

I sure didn't find anything. Provide a link.

[Karighan]

I sure didn't find anything. Provide a link.

This one is a long read: http://www.journalofplay.org/sites/www.journalofplay.org/files/pdf-articles/2-3-article-comparative-reach-play-and-brain.pdf

Even turtles need recess: Many animals -- not just dogs, cats, and monkeys -- need a little play time -- ScienceDaily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101019132045.htm)


There's been a lot of research done over the years on play in animals. It's pretty interesting.

[pdomensis]

Not to be argumentative, but the word "snake" appears nowhere in that document.

[Mikoh4792]

Not to be argumentative, but the word "snake" appears nowhere in that document.

Me neither. Typed in python, boa, king snake, snake...etc in the finder and nothing shows up.

We're talking about snakes, not turtles and other reptiles which have been shown to exhibit signs of wanting to interact.

[SSSSnakes]

Until snakes talk, I don't think we will ever really know the answer. This world has many unanswered questions.

How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? The world may never know.

[jpsteele80]

Until snakes talk, I don't think we will ever really know the answer. This world has many unanswered questions.

How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? The world may never know.

awww but we do know that answer, the wise owl said it takes 3 licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop ;)

[SSSSnakes]

awww but we do know that answer, the wise owl said it takes 3 links to get to the center of a tootsie pop ;)

He cheated.

[Teal]

I believe that snakes can recognize certain people, and associate them with "good" things like food and/or heat. I have seen snakes initiate interaction with people, and I really couldn't tell you why... climbing out of their temperate enclosure to travel on a person, for instance. Following a person around the yard, as well. I'm sure all of these instances are the result of a primal sensory like heat and/or cover seeking... but the snakes are not distressed in any way during the reactions, so that's a "good" thing then, yes? Indifferent is better than negative.

[Primal Rage]

When I asked my snakes,"what feels good to you guys?" They all had the same reply. Eating, sleeping, bathing, and fornicating. :)

[jpsteele80]

When I asked my snakes,"what feels good to you guys?" They all had the same reply. Eating, sleeping, bathing, and fornicating. :)

Lol that's just a given

[Kimmie]

I have to agreed snakes don't like getting petted. They can enjoy your body heat but that is about it I say this is snakes not all reptiles, my tegu Cookie loves getting pet or enjoys it a great deal he also likes when I take his shed off.

[MDT]

When I asked my snakes,"what feels good to you guys?" They all had the same reply. Eating, sleeping, bathing, and fornicating. :)

And not necessarily in that order....

[MCB]

My two penny's worth. I believe snakes are one of natures true 'primitives' and haven't lost their wild side to domestication. No matter what 'pet' association we give these creatures fundamentally they are primitive, kill to survive and nothing in between. We need to learn their behaviour unlike a dog or cat that can learn ours. Remember we befriended these animals and wished to keep them as 'pets', we are the lucky ones being able to share their nature, not the other way around.

[Kimmie]

My two penny's worth. I believe snakes are one of natures true 'primitives' and haven't lost their wild side to domestication. No matter what 'pet' association we give these creatures fundamentally they are primitive, kill to survive and nothing in between. We need to learn their behaviour unlike a dog or cat that can learn ours. Remember we befriended these animals and wished to keep them as 'pets', we are the lucky ones being able to share their nature, not the other way around.

that is very beautiful words :)

[Mikoh4792]

My two penny's worth. I believe snakes are one of natures true 'primitives' and haven't lost their wild side to domestication. No matter what 'pet' association we give these creatures fundamentally they are primitive, kill to survive and nothing in between. We need to learn their behaviour unlike a dog or cat that can learn ours. Remember we befriended these animals and wished to keep them as 'pets', we are the lucky ones being able to share their nature, not the other way around.

Couldn't have said it better myself.