What feels good to a snake?

[pdomensis]

Originally Posted by 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!

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]

Originally Posted by Derek Roddy

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]

Originally Posted by pdomensis

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]

Originally Posted by jpsteele80

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]

Originally Posted by 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

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

[pdomensis]

Originally Posted by jpsteele80

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[Karighan]

Originally Posted by pdomensis

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

This one is a long read: http://www.journalofplay.org/sites/w...-and-brain.pdf

Even turtles need recess: Many animals -- not just dogs, cats, and monkeys -- need a little play time -- ScienceDaily


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]

Originally Posted by pdomensis

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by jpsteele80

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.