My Mother, the Boa Charmer

[lady_bug87]

So 2 of my snakes my BP Mav and my Colombian Boa Leela are housed at my mom's because I am attempting to move and I need to start de-cluttering.

Now my mother is not afraid of my snakes she in fact is the only one in the house that I can ask to check on them however she refuses to open the tanks which is fine.

Last night I called to check up on my critters I gave her the husbandry checking instructions and she - while on the phone - went down stairs where my babies are being kept. After checking that the temps and humidity are ok I asked if she sees them coming out (it was night time) so she said well Mav is but Leela isn't

being ready to hang up the phone my mother starts to BABY TALK MY SNAKES and after me telling her they probably wont respond she says "yea well Leela slithered her whole body out of her hide and is curled up ON TOP OF IT watching me" and the baby talk continued, as long as she baby talked the snakes stuck around OUT of their hides and listened to her babbling when she stopped they slithered back to doing what they were doing before.


I laughed for a good 15 minutes.. my mother.. the snake charmer

[ZARADOZIA]

LOL That is Fabulous! I baby talk all my animals, just like I do the wild ones I have tamed, just like I do my God Daughter, just like I did my son...lol

[lady_bug87]

the thing that kills me is when they're with us they hear voices all the time because our apartment is so small they NEVER respond. I guess at my moms they're in the basement and its quiet they're wondering where their humans are at

[Jay]

Most likely reacting to the vibrations your mom was causing, snakes can not hear...

[ZARADOZIA]

Snakes-
When mechanical vibrations are applied to the body, they result activation of the inner ear just as do airborne vibrations detected by the tympanic membrane and extrastapes do in eared reptiles. Responses to groundborne vibrations are low in sensitivity and frequency, in the 50-1,000Hz range; their peak sensitivity is at 200-300 Hz range, superior to cats. Like the crocodilians, and other reptiles with linkages of their inner ear structures to their jaw and other structures in the head and throat, snakes have another way to conduct sound to their ear.

Vibrations picked up by mechanoreceptors in the skin of their bellies (and bodies?), and possibly their venter, are transmitted to the quadrate via the spinal nerves and from there into their inner ear structures. In other words, most snakes can hear a person speaking in a normal tone of voice in a quiet room at a distance of about 10 feet (3 m). So, if you think your snakes recognize their names, you are probably right. Researchers debate whether the snake's receptors cannot tell the difference between airborne or groundborne (somatic) stimuli, but that higher level processing could enable the snake to tell if the stimulus was airborne or groundborne.



Sources

Audioholics: Watts and dBs

Carson, John. 1998. Shhh! The Snake May Hear You. Originally published online at the Torrey Pines State Park (CA) website.

TIGR Reptile Database

Physics of Sound Lecture

Kaplan, Melissa. 1994. Did you hear the one about...?
Lizards of Mexico
Chameleon Communication
Murray, Michael J. 1997. Aural Abscesses. In, In, Reptile Medicine & Surgery, pp. 349-352. Douglas Mader DVM, editor. WB Saunders, NY.

Young, Bruce A. 1997. Hearing, taste, tactile reception, and olfaction. In, The Biology, Husbandry and Health Care of Reptiles, Vol I, pp 185-213. Lowell Ackerman DVM, editor. T.F.H. Publishing, Neptune City NJ.

Wright, Kevin M. 1997. Amphibian husbandry and medicine. In, Reptile Medicine & Surgery, pg. 440. Douglas Mader DVM, editor. WB Saunders, NY.

For those desirous of further research, Young cites, amongst the 214 or so references he at the end of his chapter, three in particular in regards to the structure and function of the reptilian ear:

Baird, I. The anatomy of the Reptilian ear. In, Biology of the Reptilia, Gans, C.; Parsons, T (Eds.) Academic Press, New York, NY. 1970, pp. 193-275

Bellairs, A. The life of reptiles. 2 vol. Universe Books, New York. 1970.

Wever, E. The reptile ear: Its structure and function. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 1978.


Reptile Hearing (http://www.anapsid.org/reptilehearing.html)

[KrazyKat]

Snakes-
When mechanical vibrations are applied to the body, they result activation of the inner ear just as do airborne vibrations detected by the tympanic membrane and extrastapes do in eared reptiles. Responses to groundborne vibrations are low in sensitivity and frequency, in the 50-1,000Hz range; their peak sensitivity is at 200-300 Hz range, superior to cats. Like the crocodilians, and other reptiles with linkages of their inner ear structures to their jaw and other structures in the head and throat, snakes have another way to conduct sound to their ear.

Vibrations picked up by mechanoreceptors in the skin of their bellies (and bodies?), and possibly their venter, are transmitted to the quadrate via the spinal nerves and from there into their inner ear structures. In other words, most snakes can hear a person speaking in a normal tone of voice in a quiet room at a distance of about 10 feet (3 m). So, if you think your snakes recognize their names, you are probably right. Researchers debate whether the snake's receptors cannot tell the difference between airborne or groundborne (somatic) stimuli, but that higher level processing could enable the snake to tell if the stimulus was airborne or groundborne.

Reptile Hearing (http://www.anapsid.org/reptilehearing.html)

Ahhh there it is! Thanks so much for quoting that, I had read this before but forgot where to find it again - really neat discovery :)

@ lady_bug: Your mum reminds me of mine! It took extreme baby steps, but she went from "no reptile will ever enter my house" to having her "favourites to hold"! :p I'm very happy for you seeing her warm up to them like that :)

[stephanbakir]

Most likely reacting to the vibrations your mom was causing, snakes can not hear...
Snakes can sort of hear, I made a post about it a while back.

Secondly, am I the only one who is driven absolutely insane by baby talk?

[ZARADOZIA]

Snakes can sort of hear, I made a post about it a while back.

Secondly, am I the only one who is driven absolutely insane by baby talk?


LOL baby talk for me is talking in a sweet, loving, soothing, soft voice. Not "Oochie goochhie goo"

[millertime89]

wow, that's really interesting, surprised a study like that from 1998 hasn't been talked about more often.

[millertime89]

lol baby talk for me is talking in a sweet, loving, soothing, soft voice. Not "oochie goochhie goo"

this drives me nuts!

[Gungirl]

Secondly, am I the only one who is driven absolutely insane by baby talk?

I HATE everything about baby talk no matter the way it is done. Annoys the crap outta me.

[stephanbakir]

Kat and I are destined to be :P

[Gungirl]

Kat and I are destined to be :P

Me and my husband think otherwise.. :sorry:


LMAO!

[stephanbakir]

I've never met your hubby but you sound awesome together :P Just hope there is room for me... LOL

[Snakefood]

LOL!! my mom says she's gonna stop visiting now that there are snakes in my house!!! She won't, but I thought it was funny!!

[Gungirl]

lmao ohh I need to make sure Travis signs on tonight and reads this one....

[stephanbakir]

Kat... I just noticed... every herp you own has peens :P

[Jenn_06]

i cant get myself to do the baby talk not even when my kids where babies and so hated hearing people do the baby talk to my kids, i feel like there IQ just drops lol

[stephanbakir]

Babytalk always drove me insane... even as a baby.
Especially those people like KAYLA who use the screachiest baby voice it wakes the neighbors.

[Gungirl]

Kat... I just noticed... every herp you own has peens :P

Mmhmm Is there anything wrong with that? :p

[ZARADOZIA]

wow, that's really interesting, surprised a study like that from 1998 hasn't been talked about more often.


It's because the majority of people are lazy and prefer to go by word of mouth opposed to doing research and finding Factual answers for themselves. It is a very sad fact and what makes it even worse is that it's the main reason why so many people have the wrong information.

They believe what they are told, don't double check the facts, relay that same info on down the line and then have a conniption fit and refused to accept the truths because they believe the "majority."

Biggest example of this class of thinking is when so many believed the earth was flat. The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BC) thought earth was a sphere. During the Christian years it was considered Blasphemy to say the world was round because the Church [of Rome] believed the world was flat. And so this belief was passed on word of mouth...

And we see how that ended...

[unknownclown]

wow so even theough there are no visible ears they still have internal ones??? I thought or was taught that they just went by vibrations

[alessia55]

My bp Kaybe gets calmed down if i use a low soothing tone of voice when he's agitated (like if he needs to be soaked before shedding he freaks out but if i talk to him he calms down). Also when i get home i verbally say "hi Kaybe! Hi Pika! Etc" and Kaybe has sort of come to know his name over time and when he hears it he peeps out of his hide! :) Pika has yet to pick up on his name since ive only had him for 4 weeks

[lady_bug87]

I'm glad she's warmed up to them too, I could do without the baby talk, I'm attributing more to the high frequency vibrations my mother can create with her screeching probably made my boa curious.. I have never seen a boa so inquisitive as she is

My grandmother who lives with my parents hates them with a passion and claims i simply have more money than brains I reminded her that she is also cold blooded and we keep her,

[KrazyKat]

I'm glad she's warmed up to them too, I could do without the baby talk, I'm attributing more to the high frequency vibrations my mother can create with her screeching probably made my boa curious.. I have never seen a boa so inquisitive as she is

My grandmother who lives with my parents hates them with a passion and claims i simply have more money than brains I reminded her that she is also cold blooded and we keep her,

I also could do without the sickeningly sweet and painfully high pitched baby talk, it seriously hurts my ears! lol

And I LOVE that you said that to your grandmother, that's just too good! :laugh:

LOL baby talk for me is talking in a sweet, loving, soothing, soft voice. Not "Oochie goochhie goo"

My idea of "acceptable" baby talk is the same :p

[millertime89]

wow so even theough there are no visible ears they still have internal ones??? I thought or was taught that they just went by vibrations

sound is simply vibrations in the air

My grandmother who lives with my parents hates them with a passion and claims i simply have more money than brains I reminded her that she is also cold blooded and we keep her,

THAT
IS
AWESOME!

[alessia55]

My grandmother who lives with my parents hates them with a passion and claims i simply have more money than brains I reminded her that she is also cold blooded and we keep her,

hahaha hilarious! nice wording :p

[ZARADOZIA]

i'm glad she's warmed up to them too, i could do without the baby talk, i'm attributing more to the high frequency vibrations my mother can create with her screeching probably made my boa curious.. I have never seen a boa so inquisitive as she is

my grandmother who lives with my parents hates them with a passion and claims i simply have more money than brains i reminded her that she is also cold blooded and we keep her,

This is the best frigging thing i have read in ages!!

[bbb13]

Yeah baby talk (gaga gogo stuff) has always frayed my nerves so I never didn't do it with my son, and won't do it with my Granddaughter either. It's straight talk from the jump. I also don't believe in telling kids that they can be anything that they want to be because it's not always true; try as I may during my childhood, I never did become the Incredible Hulk. lol.They should have dreams and set goals but reasonable ones.
Life is not easy and it’s definitely not fair, so kids need to be tough, especially in these strange times we live in.

[ZARADOZIA]

Yeah baby talk (gaga gogo stuff) has always frayed my nerves so I never didn't do it with my son, and won't do it with my Granddaughter either..

YEP! I think this causes the IQ's both the enfant and the adult to drop....

[lady_bug87]

She only started baby talking when we got pets when I was a baby and she baby talked I never used to respond she thought I was deaf or mute

so before my mom put me in nursery school I was only around adult conversation (limited baby talk) and my mother constantly read to me so by the time I was 2 I was speaking in full sentences and I knew my alphabet and all my numbers and I was starting to recognize words so at 2 she put me nursery school by the time I was 3 I was reading by 4 I started French class with the first graders


so I agree baby talk gets you nowhere

[KrazyKat]

She only started baby talking when we got pets when I was a baby and she baby talked I never used to respond she thought I was deaf or mute

so before my mom put me in nursery school I was only around adult conversation (limited baby talk) and my mother constantly read to me so by the time I was 2 I was speaking in full sentences and I knew my alphabet and all my numbers and I was starting to recognize words so at 2 she put me nursery school by the time I was 3 I was reading by 4 I started French class with the first graders

so I agree baby talk gets you nowhere

I vote we amend the "freedom of speech" to exclude "baby talk" (which, let's face it, is there even anything in it that qualifies as "speech"??), and then outlaw it!! :freakedout:

[lady_bug87]

agreed we can start the petition right here

[Lankyrob]

She only started baby talking when we got pets when I was a baby and she baby talked I never used to respond she thought I was deaf or mute

so before my mom put me in nursery school I was only around adult conversation (limited baby talk) and my mother constantly read to me so by the time I was 2 I was speaking in full sentences and I knew my alphabet and all my numbers and I was starting to recognize words so at 2 she put me nursery school by the time I was 3 I was reading by 4 I started French class with the first graders


so I agree baby talk gets you nowhere


We did this with our daughter, she is now 5 and reading at a 10yr old level and all the teachers say that she is very grown up in her speaking style/sentence construction.

Definitely a good idea to ban baby talk!!

[KrazyKat]

Woohoo!! That's 3 votes so far...:D

[lady_bug87]

we plan on having children soon and I refuse to allow baby talk lol

[ZARADOZIA]

lol This is awesome. My son was in 5th grade and was reading at the college level. Lucky turd. lol

[alessia55]

I was baby-talked a lot when I was a baby (so say my parents) and I was reading 2 grade levels above my age group

[lady_bug87]

lol This is awesome. My son was in 5th grade and was reading at the college level. Lucky turd. lol


I was exactly like your son lol

[ZARADOZIA]

I home schooled my son til he was in first grade. And continued throughout with supplemental work. Even now I still teach him a lot.

[lady_bug87]

thats awesome, my mom didnt know what to do with me... lol so she just kept buying me books and I kept reading them

[ZARADOZIA]

My husband bought me an E-book for mother's day, OMG I LOVE THAT THING! So I was going to get one for my son's Bday (Day of the Dead, Nov 2) but then saw his most favorite comedian, Jeff Dunham, will be in Fairfax VA, so I bought him tickets to that instead and then for X-mas I will buy him his own E-reader. Right now he uses either mine or the hubby's.

[lady_bug87]

the e-readers hurt my eyes besides I love curling up with a book I love the feel and smell of the pages

[candyraver69]

I never baby talked to my kids, but I'm terrible about it with pets and my husband. It drives my oldest son nuts, hahaha! Not the snakes though, never baby talked to the snakes. They aren't cuddly and soft, that must be it!

Moms have to drive their kids nuts somehow for payback, come on! I have to put up with hearing about poop, farts, and other things that just really don't entertain me the way it does them, and am subjected to Justin Bieber and terrible rap music not because he likes it but because I HATE it, it's only fair :P

[ZARADOZIA]

I never baby talked to my kids, but I'm terrible about it with pets and my husband. It drives my oldest son nuts, hahaha! Not the snakes though, never baby talked to the snakes. They aren't cuddly and soft, that must be it!

Moms have to drive their kids nuts somehow for payback, come on! I have to put up with hearing about poop, farts, and other things that just really don't entertain me the way it does them, and am subjected to Justin Bieber and terrible rap music not because he likes it but because I HATE it, it's only fair :P


Nothing like a good ole fashion belching and farting contest huh?! I can't wait for the day when my son does it and "Oopsies!" must run at mach 3 to the bathroom!

I got lucky in the music department, he listens to all the music I listen to. THANK GOODNESS!!

[millertime89]

the e-readers hurt my eyes besides I love curling up with a book I love the feel and smell of the pages

so do I, and you guys have another vote to ban baby talk!

[ZARADOZIA]

the e-readers hurt my eyes besides I love curling up with a book I love the feel and smell of the pages

Sometimes they bother me but not often. I fell in love with mine because I can DL as many books as I want and it's pennies on the dollar. An average week for me is 6 novels. Buying the hard copy books is more $$$ than I am willing to spend.

Only draw back...I love to read in the tub. I dropped my E reader...it went Ka-Plunk! I told husband that it "stopped working" and of course he wants more info...so I told him I dropped it in the bath and he laughed at me for a good 3 minutes. Thankfully I bought the extended warranty that covers ANY mishap (YAY ME) and traded it for one thst works. lol

[millertime89]

Sometimes they bother me but not often. I fell in love with mine because I can DL as many books as I want and it's pennies on the dollar. An average week for me is 6 novels. Buying the hard copy books is more $$$ than I am willing to spend.

Only draw back...I love to read in the tub. I dropped my E reader...it went Ka-Plunk! I told husband that it "stopped working" and of course he wants more info...so I told him I dropped it in the bath and he laughed at me for a good 3 minutes. Thankfully I bought the extended warranty that covers ANY mishap (YAY ME) and traded it for one thst works. lol

zip lock baggie it.

[ZARADOZIA]

zip lock baggie it.


OH GOOD IDEA!!!! Thank You!!

[millertime89]

OH GOOD IDEA!!!! Thank You!!

I do that with various electrical devices in all sorts of conditions, as long as its done right, you won't have a problem. Obviously try to keep it out of the water, and get it out as soon as you drop it, but it'll protect it for a bit.

[ZARADOZIA]

I haven't read in the tub since then for fear of doing it again...I am a huge cluts.

[millertime89]

my nickname from my parents is moose, because I'm so clumsy

[Gungirl]

my nickname from my parents is moose, because I'm so clumsy

Lol.. I call my son moose! I do it because he is clumsy and tall for his age.

[Lankyrob]

Sometimes they bother me but not often. I fell in love with mine because I can DL as many books as I want and it's pennies on the dollar. An average week for me is 6 novels. Buying the hard copy books is more $$$ than I am willing to spend.

Only draw back...I love to read in the tub. I dropped my E reader...it went Ka-Plunk! I told husband that it "stopped working" and of course he wants more info...so I told him I dropped it in the bath and he laughed at me for a good 3 minutes. Thankfully I bought the extended warranty that covers ANY mishap (YAY ME) and traded it for one thst works. lol


I used to read 5 or 6 novels a week when i wasnt sleeping at night but now that i get twice as much sleep i have less time for reading :( - with that and taking the IPAD to bed and playing golf on it i barely get through a book a week!