Snakes can do tricks?

[daver676]

I was watching America's Funniest Videos last week and there was a snake on there that did a trick. The owner had the snake outside. He pointed at the snake and shouted "PLAY DEAD!", and the snake proceded to roll over on it's back, open it's mouth, and sick out it's tongue! Did anyone else see this? I'm not sure what kind of snake it was. Didn't look like any type of boa or python. It was very dark coloured. Is it possible to teach a snake tricks? Does anyone else's snakes do any tricks?

Dave

[Linds]

I doubt very highly this snake did a trick. There are a few snakes that when threatened, will roll over and play dead, such as hognose snakes. Some can even excrete small amounts of blood from their mouths to make the act even more convincing ;) It isn't possible to teach a snake tricks, they can only have conditioned behaviours, thats about as far as it goes. Such as "training" them to accept dead prey, etc.

[daver676]

I thought so. I was just wondering if anyone had any "special" snakes.

[jncoclub]

Mine is pretty good at the "Stay" command as well as "Go slither over there!" Yep, we're in the process of looking into different agents.

[Thomas]

it was probably a hognosed snake, they have a habit of playing dead when threatened

[Big Mike]

I taught my ball python to do a backflip ;)

[Ace]

I taught my ball python to do a backflip

Now I'd like to see that!!! :D LOL

[Invictus]

Oh, if only I could potty train my corns... that would be so awesome. :)

[The_Omen]

Oh, if only I could potty train my corns... that would be so awesome.

That's easy!
Just clean the cage!
I taught all mine to use the water bowls.
They do THAT trick everytime I change them....

[Andy_G]

I saw that, it was a quite rough looking, probably just caught Eastern hognose. That's their main defence mechanism in the wild, playing dead.

[Siretsap]

Actually, yes a snake will do tricks. There is even a book telling you how to make them do it. If I remember correctly, it's called
The guide to a happy healthy snake.
It that book, there is a chapter on teaching tricks to your snake.
Never tried it cause I find it really dumb.

[marisa]

The book is probably a foolish one. And the "tricks" being natural things the snake would do in certain situations.

I'm with jncoclub, mine all know the "stay" command well. Also my corns really listen when I say "o.k. slither away as fast as possible!!!"

MY BP seems to be the king of the stare at me command though.
LOL

Marisa

[Invictus]

I taught my corns the "Poop all over the cage" trick, which they have mastered. My boa is great at the "Go to your hide box and never ever ever ever come out unless you're REALLY cold" trick. :)

[Lisa]

Lol one of our snakes likes to immitate a stick. it just lays there.

[Mike177]

my ball python will do the "Pretend that your a basket ball if you put him on the ground and run at him wile yelling and jumping.

[Siretsap]

Lol my male ball python does the strike trick all the time, especially when I point my hand at him.

[Christina]

I also saw that clip and it was an eastern hognose.
Iv personal caught 4 different eastern hognoses but never had any of them played dead for me, so i guess some do and some dont. I have also heard that it is believed that they are actually siezier but i have not found any info to support that

[dank7oo]

i want a 'special snake' - LOL